62 - Mwana Pwo Chokwé female mask, DR Congo / Angola.

Mwana Pwo Chokwé female mask, DR Congo / Angola. Carved from dense wood with a deep, nuanced, satin-like reddish-brown patina. Notable for the extreme finesse of its craftsmanship, this Mwana Pwo mask features a feminine face of great delicacy: high, perfectly defined eyebrows; half-closed almond-shaped eyes; a tapered nose; and a finely contoured mouth revealing a row of small teeth. The spectacular hairstyle, featuring a high, domed cap, is entirely covered with tiny, parallel, regular, and closely spaced striations, attesting to the sculptor’s particularly meticulous craftsmanship; a discreet incised geometric pattern completes the forehead. The interior is lined with numerous ancient perforations intended for securing the costume. First half of the 20th century. Base included. Height: 18.5 cm