Pwo Mask, Lwena ( Luena ) People, Democratic Republic Of Congo

Pwo" mask featuring a soft, feminine face. It evokes an ancestral spirit while representing the ideal woman.
The half-open mouth is luscious. It is surmounted by a fine, long nose. Vertical line scarification runs along the bridge of the nose, creating continuity with the imposing ogive-shaped headdress.
The left ear still bears traces of red pigment and a copper ring earring. The other ear is broken at the lobe.
A collection label is glued to the back of the mask. It reads "Luena 1929.2.1". 1929 is certainly the date of collection.
Lwena (Luena) people, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Wood with worn patina (cracked and slightly missing), pigment, copper.
H: 36 cm
Provenance: - ex Belgian private collection
                      - Collected in situ by Antoine Sohier (1885-1963), a former judge in the Belgian Congo who worked in Katanga from 1910 to 1934.) According to his family, he received this mask in Dilolo from Chief Luena Mwakandala.
Sold with its base

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