Female Face Mask (Mwana Pwo)
Chokwe
1875–1925
- Medium
- Wood, fiber, beads, and pigment
- Dimensions
- 45.8 × 24.8 × 22.3 cm (18 × 9 3/4 × 8 3/4 in.)
- Genre
- masks
- Museum
- Art Institute of Chicago
Styles
Tags
beadsscarificationancestorsmasqueradespainting (coating)Central Africaceremonial maskfemaleportraitfibermaskswood (plant material)chokweafrican Artarts of Africacarvingadhesioncolorantfertilitypigmentweaving
About
A popular and frequent occurrence in entertainment masquerades, mwana pwo represents a female ancestor but is always worn by a male dancer. This mask type symbolizes fecundity and the prominent role of women in Chokwe society. Although idealized, its features suggest the individuality of a portrait, raising the possibility that it may be modeled on a particular woman. Mwana pwo often features elements of beauty such as scarification and hairstyles.
