Chokwe, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia: An old ‘mwana pwo’ mask, the ‘beautiful girl’.
Chokwe, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia: An old ‘mwana pwo’ mask, the ‘beautiful girl’.
An unusual old mask of the Chokwe people, of the ‘mwana pwo’ type, depicting the ‘beautiful girl’. These masks were used by men dancing in tight-fitting costumes on high stilts. The present ‘mwana pwo’ mask is carved in light-coloured wood. The face of the mask had been originally dyed red by means of powdered redwood. Only the eyebrows and the open mouth with the pointed, filed teeth (an ideal of beauty of the Chokwe people) were originally also black, as was the hairstyle, which consists of seven braided crests carved from the same piece. Under the hairstyle runs a carved ornamental band and in the centre of the forehead sits the tribal mark of the Chokwe people, called ‘cingelyengelye’ (a type of ‘Maltese cross’). Further scarification marks are visible above the eyebrows, on the temples, along the nose, on the cheeks and on the chin. Overall a piece of impressive age. With good usage patina. Only a small, old fracture on the lower rim on the back. First third of the 20th century; h: 26 cm. (ME)
Provenance: Jo Christiaens, Bruges, Belgium.
Lit.: ‘Chokwe!’ by Manuel Jordan, ill. 61; ‘Escultura Angolana’ by Marie- Louise Bastin, ill. 162; et al.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
05.11.2014 - 13:00
- Estimate:
-
EUR 4,000.- to EUR 5,000.-
Chokwe, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia: An old ‘mwana pwo’ mask, the ‘beautiful girl’.
An unusual old mask of the Chokwe people, of the ‘mwana pwo’ type, depicting the ‘beautiful girl’. These masks were used by men dancing in tight-fitting costumes on high stilts. The present ‘mwana pwo’ mask is carved in light-coloured wood. The face of the mask had been originally dyed red by means of powdered redwood. Only the eyebrows and the open mouth with the pointed, filed teeth (an ideal of beauty of the Chokwe people) were originally also black, as was the hairstyle, which consists of seven braided crests carved from the same piece. Under the hairstyle runs a carved ornamental band and in the centre of the forehead sits the tribal mark of the Chokwe people, called ‘cingelyengelye’ (a type of ‘Maltese cross’). Further scarification marks are visible above the eyebrows, on the temples, along the nose, on the cheeks and on the chin. Overall a piece of impressive age. With good usage patina. Only a small, old fracture on the lower rim on the back. First third of the 20th century; h: 26 cm. (ME)
Provenance: Jo Christiaens, Bruges, Belgium.
Lit.: ‘Chokwe!’ by Manuel Jordan, ill. 61; ‘Escultura Angolana’ by Marie- Louise Bastin, ill. 162; et al.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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| Auction: | Tribal Art |
| Auction type: | Saleroom auction |
| Date: | 05.11.2014 - 13:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 31.10. - 05.11.2014 |