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All auctions / Ethnographical / Magnificent goddess mask Punu Mukuyi - Gabon - Punu (ou...
MAGNIFICENT PUNU MUKUYI GODDESS MASK - GABON Ethnicity: Punu (Bapunu) Region: Southern Gabon, Ngounié basin HEIGHT - 39 cm WIDTH - 24 cm THICKNESS - 21 cm Carved wooden mask depicting an idealized female face, characteristic of the Punu traditions (Gabon) Symbolism This type of mask often embodies: ● The spirit of an ideal woman or an ancestor ● Beauty, wisdom, and fertility ● A link between the visible and invisible worlds ● Dancers wore these masks during impressive performances on stilts, embodying benevolent spirits. Mukuyi ceremonial mask from the Punu people, mainly established in southern Gabon. This type of mask is associated with funerary rites and ceremonies of commemorating the deceased, within the framework of ancestor worship. The face, slightly triangular in shape, is covered with a white kaolin layer, characteristic of representations of the spiritual world among the Punu. Almond-shaped eyes, high cheekbones, and a finely carved mouth give the overall expression of serenity and restraint, in line with the Punu aesthetic ideal, often associated with feminine beauty. Frontal and temporal scarifications, arranged in diamond motifs (mabinda), refer to Punu cosmogony. The nine-element pattern symbolizes the order of the world, perfection, and wisdom, with the creative principle in a central position. The elaborate coiffure, finely carved, reinforces the elegance and formal balance of the piece. Mukuyi masks were worn by dancers mounted on tall stilts, completely concealed under a costume, performing acrobatic figures intended to honor the ancestors and ensure the community's spiritual protection. Punu masks are among the most cherished works of classical African art, both for the quality of their sculpture and for the purity of their lines and the strength of their expression. GOOD LUCK CHARM AND FORTUNE-BRINGING PUNU MUKUYI GODDESS MASK
Estimate:£16.95
To the auctionView all items fromCatawikiorEthnographical
Estimate:
£16.95
OCT 8 | 3:00 PM
OCT 8 | 3:00 PM
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