[Untitled]
Item
Accession Number
2024.37.
Subject
Mask|Ceremonial|Central Africa
Country
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Date
Early 20th Century
Medium
Patinated wood
Format
H x W x D: 11 3/4 in x 5 in x 3 3/4 in (29.845 cm x 12.7 cm x 9.525 cm)
Description
The wooden Pwo mask represents a female archetype, an ancestral personage who encourages fertility. The vertical lines descending from the narrow eyes resemble tears, while the symbol in the center of the forehead is believed to be a cosmogram. The Pwo masks were often highly decorated, with raffia and other natural materials.
Type
Pwo Mask
Conforms To
Chokwe