PUNU AFRICAN MASK - GABON

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PUNU AFRICAN MASK - GABON:
$250.00

PUNU MASK, GABON on custom wooden stand

The Punu reside on the left bank of the Upper Ngoume River(Gabon) and belong to the group of tribes known as Shira which were originallypart of the Luango kingdom of Angola. With the Eshira, the Lumbo, the Vili, theGaloa, and the Vungu people, the Punu migrated northwards during the 18thcentury and settled in the area where they continue to inhabit to this day.They live in independent villages divided into clans and families, and socialcohesion is ensured by a society known as moukouji. Its primary role is to regulate community life withregards to social and judicial matters, and mainly it applies itself to theneutralization of evil forces. To this end, officiates of moukoudji utilize a cult kit thatincludes statuettes, human relics and masks.

Punu masks represent idealized female ancestors\' faces. Thewhite color of the mask is genderless; white is a symbol for peace, deities,spirits of the dead, and the afterlife. It is thus the predominating color infuneral celebrations and memorials. Therefore the masks were worn duringfunerals. They appeared also in the magical rites whose function was to unmasksorcerers. The masks have realistic, mostly white but sometimes black faceswith protruding pursed lips, globular protruding eyes incised with a curve,high-domed foreheads, and characteristic rigid high coiffures reflecting thePunu women\'s hair styles. The masks often have an Oriental expression, but nosuch influence has been established. Many Punu masks can be recognized by raiseddiamond-shape scarification marks on the foreheads and temples. Thescarification marks on the temples are thought to be associated either with afemale ancestor, or with a southern sub-group of the Punu tribe. Blackface-masks have exactly the same stylistic characteristics as the white masks,but they are believed to have a judiciary function and help identify sorcerers.The performances of the masks are nowadays intended primarily to entertainaudiences on festive occasions. Only rarely do the masqueraders fulfill aritual function of officiating at funerals, when they dance as embodiments ofthe ancestor spirits. In performances the dancers, wearing costumes of raffiaor cotton fabric and animal pelts, move with amazing acrobatic agility on stiltsup to six and a half feet in height.

This beautiful example measures: 11.5 inches long and 7.5inches wide.