Chokwe Wood Pwo Mask, Based

Rope-colored fringe, half-closed eyes, a face that gives nothing away.

Chokwe artists of Angola, Central Africa, made this Pwo mask in wood and fiber in the early to mid 20th century. Pwo masks are associated with an idealized female ancestor and are commonly danced by men at Chokwe gatherings. The face is smooth and honey-brown, with a high rounded forehead, narrow lidded eyes and a small dark mouth. Fine marks sit on the temples and cheeks. A tangle of reddish fiber frames the face like hair.

About 14 inches tall on the mount. Serene from the front, and hard to stop looking at.