Pwo mask - Chokwe - SOLD OUT
The Chokwe live in a large area to the north-east of Angola, south-east of the Democratif Republic of the Congo and more recently they have also migrated into Zambia. They trace their roots back to the 17th century, to a group who broke from the Lunda empire and to a mythical ancestor and cultural hero, Chibinda Ilunga who is believed to have introduced a number of hunting techniques, rituals and court manners to the Chokwe.Masks of both fiber and wood are worn during the Mukanda initiation ceremony for young boys and these include the familiar Mwana Pwo (beautiful woman) mask, danced with discreet and elegant movements to teach grace of manners to the women present. The sculptor selects as the source of his inspiration a beautiful young woman of the village, reproducing the design of her tattoos and the arrangement of the hair. The male mask, Cihongo, is related to chieftancy and is most often used in royal ceremonies.Much figure sculpture is related to the hamba possession cults concerned with fertility and hunting. Amongst the most famous of Chokwe carvings, are those attributed to a "homeland" style dating before the Chokwe expansion in the 19th century. These include figures representing the ancestor hero Chibinda Ilunga, chairs and sceptres.Nganga (deviners) are called upon to to counteract evil spirits which cause illness and a number of divination implements are used including the familiar baskets of charms, thrown in the air and configuration read by the deviner to determine the cause of the illness. Whistles of wood and ivory, worn as pendents and often with a beautiful patina from handling, were used during hunts and possibly also during battles.SpecsOriginEx private collection Pays-BasSize2 x 17 cmDatingCirca 1960Material(s)Wood
00048
Data sheet
- Presumed dating
- Circa 1960
- Size
- Ethnic group
- Material(s)
- Wood
- Country
- Origin
- Gathered in situ
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The Chokwe live in a large area to the north-east of Angola, south-east of the Democratif Republic of the Congo and more recently they have also migrated into Zambia. They trace their roots back to the 17th century, to a group who broke from the Lunda empire and to a mythical ancestor and cultural hero, Chibinda Ilunga who is believed to have introduced a number of hunting techniques, rituals and court manners to the Chokwe.Masks of both fiber and wood are worn during the Mukanda initiation ceremony for young boys and these include the familiar Mwana Pwo (beautiful woman) mask, danced with discreet and elegant movements to teach grace of manners to the women present. The sculptor selects as the source of his inspiration a beautiful young woman of the village, reproducing the design of her tattoos and the arrangement of the hair. The male mask, Cihongo, is related to chieftancy and is most often used in royal ceremonies.Much figure sculpture is related to the hamba possession cults concerned with fertility and hunting. Amongst the most famous of Chokwe carvings, are those attributed to a "homeland" style dating before the Chokwe expansion in the 19th century. These include figures representing the ancestor hero Chibinda Ilunga, chairs and sceptres.Nganga (deviners) are called upon to to counteract evil spirits which cause illness and a number of divination implements are used including the familiar baskets of charms, thrown in the air and configuration read by the deviner to determine the cause of the illness. Whistles of wood and ivory, worn as pendents and often with a beautiful patina from handling, were used during hunts and possibly also during battles.SpecsOriginEx private collection Pays-BasSize2 x 17 cmDatingCirca 1960Material(s)Wood