SCARCE MWANA PWO CHOWKE CENT AFRICAN HND CRVD WD MASK, W/BRAIDED HEMP GRASS HAIR

Description

SCARCE
LATE 19TH
to
EARLY 20TH CENTURY
AFRICAN
'MWANA PWO CHOWKE,'
CENTRAL
AFRICA
(C
O
N
G
O)
HAND CARVED WOODEN
ANCESTRAL MASK,
featuring
BRAIDED HEMP
ATTACHED, WOVEN HEADDRESS
&
INCISED, SGRAFFITO HIEROGLYPHIC TRIBAL MARKS
in
100% ORIGINAL ANTIQUE CONDITION
(Circa 1885-1915)
Late 19th to early 20th century '
Mwana Pwo Chowke'
central
Afr
ic
an,
Co
n
go
l
ese
hand carved, ancestral figurative masks
with tied hemp hair headdresses
DIMENSIONS:
9
3⁄4" full Height x
8 1⁄2" Height (wooden face)
x
5
1⁄2" Width x 2
3⁄4" Depth
Weight:
8 oz.
DESCRIPTION:
Offered for your review and consideration is this wonderful, enigmatic and mysterious
late 19th to early 20th century,
antique,
hand carved, figurative wooden mask
from
central
Af
ri
ca
in the
C
o
n
g
o.
It's from the
Chowke
people
and is referred to as a
'Mwana Pwo Chowke'
female ancestral mask,
with a
braided hemp, tied cord headdress.
The carving is particularly fine and the form features highly stylized, deep carving, with no more than slits for eyes, deep eye sockets, raised brows, characteristic thin, pointed noses and protruding mouth, with the
Chowke
hallmark jagged set of triangular teeth, exposed in a diminutive, curved, slanted mouth.
Under the eyes are found incised, sgraffito-like, carved square tile rows, following the curvature of the eyes. From the eyes going vertically downward are a smaller double column of carved squares. This can be found directly under the chin as well. This shallow, incised carving no doubt
depicts former inked tattoos
of the figure, possibly particular to the person and therefore accurate, inducing memories of the departed ancestor, former family or tribal member. From the top of the nose and arching over the forehead, as well as around the top of the skull, where the wood meets and is joined to the fabulous
tied hemp cord headdress,
are raised, deeply incised geo-abstract details. The hemp headdress flows backwards from the curved forehead like two wings of a bird and is nearly as it was originally constituted and without loss. The entire hemp headdress assembly is tied by hand to the wooden mask through drilled-out holes along the mask's top margins. In absolutely amazing condition. Untouched and as it was found in the estate it was removed from. Not a more recent facsimile or contemporary
Afr
ic
an
wood carving
but a much earlier,
turn-of-the-century,
antique hand carved
Afr
ic
an
wooden mask. From the
Chowke
people of the
C
o
n
g
o,
central
Af
ri
ca.
Outstanding. Very fine.
CONDITION:
Good to Very Good overall antique condition. 100% original antique condition. Absolutely untouched.