Chokwe Raffia Mask, Democratic Republic of Congo, Based

A quiet face, half-lidded, inside a wild head of raffia.

This mask, on a base, is Chokwe, from the Democratic Republic of Congo in Central Africa, 20th century, in carved wood and raffia. Chokwe masks appeared in dances tied to initiation and community celebration, and many present an idealized ancestor or a model of beauty. The oval face is a warm red-brown, polished at the brow and cheeks. Narrow slit eyes sit under arched lines of raised dots, with rosettes of dots on each cheek. Small carved teeth show in the open mouth. Long raffia hangs from holes around the edge. It stands 18.5 inches high.

Composure, with a great deal going on behind it.