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an image of a close up of a mask on a wallan old wooden mask with a hat on top of itan image of a wooden mask on a gray backgrounda close up of a wooden mask on a black backgrounda close up of a clay mask on a tablea wooden sculpture of a woman ' s face on a black backgrounda close up of a clay mask on a tablea close up of a wooden mask on a tablea close up of a statue of a person with a hat ona person holding a piece of wood with a face on it
Maison de vente Labarbe

333 - Punu mukuye mask, Gabon
See original version (French)

Estimate €800 - €1,200
Sale commission
Description
Punu mukuye mask, Gabon Medium-hard wood, kaolin, pigments H. 27 cm Of particular note here is the extensive use of kaolin, with the carrying collar forming a grip at the chin. Beautiful internal carving. SFEP expert member: Emmanuelle Menuet History: Recognised very early on by Western artists for their aesthetic beauty, Okuyi masks depict portraits of young women with idealised features. Worn by dancers perched on high stilts during community celebrations, they are also, in Punu culture, a symbol of the strong bonds uniting women and the spirit world. The application of white kaolin takes on particular significance here, as this colour is associated in local culture with the afterlife. Having remained in the same French family for almost a century now, the three Punu masks we are presenting were collected by the grandparents of the current owners, who were stationed on the banks of the Ogooué near Lambaréné, between 1925 and 1930.
See original version (French)
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About the sale PAINTINGS, FURNITURE & WORKS OF ART
Auction location
Auction time 10/15/2026 at 9:30 AM
Pictures modified on 10/05/2026 at 10:21 AM
Lot description modified on 10/09/2026 at 9:56 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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