Chokwe Mwana Pwo mask
Mask in the Chokwe tradition
A wooden mask of a female displaying great energy in the style of the carving and patina from regular use in ceremonies. The face has a high, smooth forehead with a scarification mark running down the centre. The eyebrows are gently arching and are thick and highlighted in black pigment. The eyes are half close and deeply set in lentoid shaped sockets, and with scarification marks to the sides. The cheeks are high and angular and have scarification marks to the top and frame the flat nose with flaring nostrils. The mouth is a projecting oval and is open revealing a row of sharp teeth to the top and bottom. The chin juts forward and has a scarification mark. The hair is represented by three crests that sweep back along the top of the head and to the back is a series of knotted cords forming long tresses.
These masks represent a notable female ancestor of the Chokwe people, with distinctive features that are characteristic of the beauty admired in young women. Despite representing women they are only worn by men during the masquerades. The male dancers wear tight fitting costumes with false breasts, and their graceful movements imitate that of women and are believed to convey powers of fertility to the spectators. Women play an important role in Chokwe society as they trace descent through their mother’s line. The scarification marks to the cheeks represent tears, and the masks are used at initiation ceremonies of male youths where the bonds of intimacy between the mother and child are ritually broken.
01319
Data sheet
- Presumed dating
- Circa 1960
- Size
- 21,5 cm
- Ethnic group
- Material(s)
- Wood, rope
- Country
- Origin
- Tribal Art Collection Germany
- Stand
- Condition
- Excellent
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Mask in the Chokwe tradition
A wooden mask of a female displaying great energy in the style of the carving and patina from regular use in ceremonies. The face has a high, smooth forehead with a scarification mark running down the centre. The eyebrows are gently arching and are thick and highlighted in black pigment. The eyes are half close and deeply set in lentoid shaped sockets, and with scarification marks to the sides. The cheeks are high and angular and have scarification marks to the top and frame the flat nose with flaring nostrils. The mouth is a projecting oval and is open revealing a row of sharp teeth to the top and bottom. The chin juts forward and has a scarification mark. The hair is represented by three crests that sweep back along the top of the head and to the back is a series of knotted cords forming long tresses.
These masks represent a notable female ancestor of the Chokwe people, with distinctive features that are characteristic of the beauty admired in young women. Despite representing women they are only worn by men during the masquerades. The male dancers wear tight fitting costumes with false breasts, and their graceful movements imitate that of women and are believed to convey powers of fertility to the spectators. Women play an important role in Chokwe society as they trace descent through their mother’s line. The scarification marks to the cheeks represent tears, and the masks are used at initiation ceremonies of male youths where the bonds of intimacy between the mother and child are ritually broken.