Chokwe, Angola, Congo, Zambia: A ‘Mwana pwo mask’, the ‘beautiful girl’.
A 'classic' mask type of the Chokwe people, used by men dancing in tight-fitting costumes on high stilts. With the typical ‘Cingelyengelye’ tribal mark (a sort of ‘Maltese cross’) on the forehead, carved in relief. The forehead is additionally outlined with 6 brass decorative nails. Surmounted by a carved coiffure with 3 deeper stripes in which a different material (textile or plant fibres) originally completed the hairstyle. With high, curved eyebrows, slit eyes, small, delicate nose, so called ‘tears’ on both cheeks (scarification marks) and an open mouth with pointed teeth, a beauty ideal of Chokwe women. The hair, eyebrows and lips were originally dyed black, remains of red colouring (by means of powdered redwood) are visible. With good usage patina on the front as well as on the reverse, with minor age damage (some pieces broken off on the chin, nose and on the lower rim at the back). First half of the 20th century; H: 25 cm. (ME)
Provenance: Viennese private collection.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
24.03.2014 - 16:00
- Estimate:
-
EUR 3,600.- to EUR 4,000.-
Chokwe, Angola, Congo, Zambia: A ‘Mwana pwo mask’, the ‘beautiful girl’.
A 'classic' mask type of the Chokwe people, used by men dancing in tight-fitting costumes on high stilts. With the typical ‘Cingelyengelye’ tribal mark (a sort of ‘Maltese cross’) on the forehead, carved in relief. The forehead is additionally outlined with 6 brass decorative nails. Surmounted by a carved coiffure with 3 deeper stripes in which a different material (textile or plant fibres) originally completed the hairstyle. With high, curved eyebrows, slit eyes, small, delicate nose, so called ‘tears’ on both cheeks (scarification marks) and an open mouth with pointed teeth, a beauty ideal of Chokwe women. The hair, eyebrows and lips were originally dyed black, remains of red colouring (by means of powdered redwood) are visible. With good usage patina on the front as well as on the reverse, with minor age damage (some pieces broken off on the chin, nose and on the lower rim at the back). First half of the 20th century; H: 25 cm. (ME)
Provenance: Viennese private collection.
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: | 24.03.2014 - 16:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 18.03. - 24.03.2014 |