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Premium DE BAECQUE et Associés - Marseille
204
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TCHOKWE, ANGOLA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
See original version (French)
204
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TCHOKWE, ANGOLA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
See original version (French)
Estimate €1,500 - €2,000
Voluntary lot
Description
TCHOKWE, ANGOLA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
Mwana Pwo mask (young girl) representing the idealised female ancestor in the form of a young girl of great beauty, who also embodies wisdom and fertility. Wood with a beautiful, lustrous brown patina resulting from long ritual use. The face has clear, regular and harmonious features, with broad eyebrows arching over large, half-closed eyes; these are sculpted in relief in a shuttle-shaped form, with a horizontal slit running through their centre. The broad forehead is adorned with the Chingelyengelye cross motif, sometimes also referred to as Panya depending on the various ‘sources’, a geometric symbol which, amongst other things, serves as an emblem of social and spiritual rank in accordance with this people’s cosmogony. The nose is short and very slender. The mouth is wide and reveals even, pointed teeth. Both ears are adorned with ancient brass rings. An imposing headdress made of woven plant fibres, strips of fabric and coloured glass bead ornamentation lends volume and majesty to the ensemble. A braided headband is attached to the holes at the base of the mask and covers the neck of the wearer and dancer. First half of the 20th century. Beautiful bronze plinth.
H. 28 cm – W. 20 cm – D. 30 cm (excluding plinth)
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
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