Archetypical Feminine Mask
Item
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Accession Number
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2024.37.
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Title
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Archetypical Feminine Mask
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Ethnic Group
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Chokwe
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Subject
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Mask|Ceremonial|Central Africa
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Country
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Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Date
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Early 20th Century
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Medium
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Patinated wood
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Format
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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)
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Description
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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.
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Type
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Pwo Mask
