This is the rating and price for Early 20Th C. African Chokwe Wood Pwo Mask, 2007

Description : Central Africa, Angola, Zambia, and Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chokwe peoples, ca. 1920s CE. A fine example of a hand-carved wooden face mask known as a Mwana Pwo with stylized physiognomy and a spiked coiffure. The intricate visage presents with sunken, heavy eyes beneath high-arching brows, a slender nose between angular cheek bones, cupped ears, an open mouth with two rows of jagged teeth, and several areas bearing incised scarification marks. The tall forehead is embellished with an ornate, four-lobed cross indicative of the beauty inherent to initiated female members of society. Size: 6 W x 7.4 H (15.2 cm x 18.8 cm) This mask may symbolize the figure of Mwana Pwo, an archetypal female ancestor, socially significant particularly because the Chokwe trace their ancestry through their maternal lines. The scars on the face are an indicator of beauty as well as ethnic identity. Masks from this culture are often used at initiation rites to welcome people into the adult world. A nearly identical Chokwe mask hammered for 4,000 Euro (equivalent to $5,868.80 at the time) at Christie's Paris on December 11, 2007 (Live Auction 5497, lot 231). Provenance: private Pennsylvania, USA collection, acquired before 2004 All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #177006
Price: 442.75 USD It's free to register now to view!
Estimate (low-high) : 700 USD-1050 USD It's free to register now to view!

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