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a white mask on the wall with a hat on ita close up of a clay head with a hat on ita close up of a wooden mask with a hat on topa close up of a carved head of a womana close up of a carved head of a persona close up of a sculpture of a person ' s facea brown object with a tag on it on a table
Maison de vente Labarbe

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

Estimate €600 - €800
Sale commission
Description
Punu mukuye mask, Gabon Medium-hard wood, kaolin, pigments H. 27 cm A mask with a double central shell and side braids falling over the temples, featuring a beautiful diamond-shaped tattoo on the forehead. 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 with the afterlife in local culture. 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
Lot description modified on 10/09/2026 at 9:57 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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