Unknown (Chokwe)
Pwo Mask (Chokwe)
19th-20th Century
A Pwo (also 'Mwana Pwo') mask carved by the Chokwe people of the southern Democratic Republic of the Congo in the 19th–20th century. Worn by male dancers in Chokwe initiation ceremonies to personify an idealised female ancestor, the delicate oval face, almond-shaped eyes, and scarification patterns on the brow embody the Chokwe feminine ideal. The Musée du Quai Branly in Paris holds exceptional Pwo masks among its Central African collections.
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Image source: Wikimedia Commons