ANGOLAN CHOKWE MWANA PWO MASK This Chokwe mask, known as Mwana Pwo, is a celebrated archetype of female beauty and ancestral grace from Angola. Carved from fine-grained wood with a rich, reddish-brown patina, the mask features a serene facial expression with delicate, slit-like eyes and an open mouth showing filed teeth, a traditional mark of beauty among the Chokwe people. The face is framed by an elaborate, original heddress composed of woven fiber and long, raffia-like strands of hair that would have moved rhythmically during performance. Historically, these masks were worn by male dancers in a tight-fitting mesh costume to honor deceased female ancestors and to bring fertility and prosperity to the community. The graceful features and peaceful demeanor of the Mwana Pwo reflect the Chokwe ideal of the "young woman" who has reached a state of maturity and spiritual fulfillment. Height: 14 inches (including the mesh) $150-250
Sloans & Kenyon, September 2016 Fine Art auction, lot 1142 there acquired
