Mask of Chokwe style - Lot 87

Mask of Chokwe style Angola Wood, fibers, beads, cowries Height : 21 cm The Pwo mask is the incarnation of the female ancestor, but can also represent women in general, or be the portrait of a beloved. The scarification marks are beautiful and regular on the cheeks and chin. The large forehead is marked with the chingeleyele cross pattern derived from the Maltese cross. The sharp teeth, in the open and exaggeratedly wide mouth, were a sign of beauty. The coffee bean eyes seem to be closed, the nose with hemmed nostrils is finely sculpted. Particular care is given to the hairstyle. It begins at the top of the forehead, finely carved in wood; a band of pearls, braided fibers and cowries separates the face from the thick and voluminous hairstyle.