| Chokwe Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia |
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| Other examples and information below provided for reference purposes |
| (This mask is probably my favorite Chokwe mask I have ever seen) Mask, Chokwe; D.R.C. Congo/Angola Wood, fiber, metal, beads, pigment; H. 8 1/4" From: Remnants of Ritual - Selections from the Gelbard Collection of African Art Pwo signifies womanhood and an elder ancestral female associated with fertility. Although performed by a male dancer, the costume includes wooden breasts and a female bustle behind. More recent adaptations transform her into mwana pwo, a young woman who has undergone initiation and is therefore ready for marriage. The cross form on the forehead, known as cingelyengelye, is an early Portuguese influence. M.L. Bastin attributed this lovely mask to the Expansion style of the Kwili-Kasai, on either side of the border between Angola and D.R.C. Congo. |
SOTHEBY'S AFRICAN, OCEANIC AND PRE-COLUMBIAN ART SALE N07996 AUCTION DATE 14 May 04 LOCATION - New York LOT 74 PROPERTY OF VARIOUS OWNERS A TSHOKWE MASK Estimate 8,000—12,000 USD Lot Sold. Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium: 8,400 USD MEASUREMENTS length 12in. 30.5cm DESCRIPTION pwo, of hollowed oval form and pierced around the rim for attachment, the oval mouth pierced and baring pointed teeth beneath the transversely pierced nose with insertion, a medial ridge leading to arching brows framing the almond-shaped slit eyes beneath the diadem framed by a woven fiber coiffure, the face decorated with raised scarification; deep red pigmented patina with areas of black pigment and kaolin. PROVENANCE Morton Dimondstein, Los Angeles |
| SOTHEBY'S AFRICAN & OCEANIC ART SALE N08132 AUCTION DATE 11 Nov 05 10:15 AM. LOCATION New York LOT 143 A TSHOKWE/Chokwe MASK Estimate 6,000—9,000 USD Lot Sold. Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium: 12,000 USD MEASUREMENTS height 7in. 17.8cm DESCRIPTION mwana pwo, the delicate chin beneath the parted lips baring filed teeth, and the small transversely pierced nose bisecting slit eyes framed by C-shaped ears with earrings and incised scarification; deep red ochre surface. PROVENANCE Pierre Jernander, Brussels, February 1977 EXHIBITED Notre Dame, Indiana, Traditional African Sculpture from the Britt Family Collection, The Snite Museum of Art, University of Notre Dame, October 24 - December 19, 1982 |
| SOTHEBY'S AFRICAN, OCEANIC AND PRE-COLUMBIAN ART SALE N08095 AUCTION DATE 12 May 05 10:15 AM. LOCATION New York LOT 104 PROPERTY FROM AN AMERICAN PRIVATE COLLECTION A FINE TSHOKWE MASK ESTIMATE 15,000—20,000 USD Lot Sold. Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium: 24,000 USD MEASUREMENTS height 7 1/2 in. 19cm DESCRIPTION of diminutive form, the finely carved chin beneath parted lips and small nose framed by slit eyes and arching brows, the cheeks decorated with delicately inset metal, and wearing a fiber headdress; brown patina with layers of camwood powder overall. PROVENANCE Acquired from Pace Gallery, New York, 1984 CATALOGUE NOTE According to Bastin (in a 1983 letter to the current owner about this mask), the beautiful and unusual scarification patterns on the front of the mask are called cingelyengelye (portable amulets evocative of the Cross of the Order of Christ in Portugal). On the cheeks are patterns called masoji a mitelumuna nyi cijingo (the outline of tears terminating in the sun). Bastin goes on to note that the quality of expression in this mask suggests it is a portrait, not surprising as old Tshokwe sculptors took inspiration for their carving from a woman they admired for her beauty. The frontal transverse section of the coiffure is a type called tota (short tresses covered in red clay). Under the headband is a double diamdem called kaponde. A fringe, cisukusuku, ornaments the back of the cap. |
| SOTHEBY'S AUCTION DATE 16 Apr 03 5:00 PM. LOCATION Paris LOT 125 Beau masque phwo, Tshokwe, Angola ESTIMATE 15,000—25,000 EUR Lot Sold. Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium: 35,625 EUR MEASUREMENTS Hauteur : 34 cm avec la coiffe et 19 cm sans DESCRIPTION Creusé de forme ovale, avec une coiffe et une barbe élaborées composées d'une toile de fibres tressées, le visage aux traits finement sculptés a un menton de section carrée et une bouche ouverte montrant des dents limées en pointe, le nez aquilin percé de deux narines est encadré de deux grands yeux en forme de grains de café sous des sourcils arqués, les oreilles en haut-relief portent des boucles d'oreilles en perles de verre turquoises, tandis que le menton, les tempes et le front sont décorés de scarifications; il porte une coiffure sculptée de six sections rectangulaires; très belle patine marron brillante, restes de pigments noir et blanc Rough translation: Made of oval form, with an elaborate cap and a beard made up of a braided fibre fabric, the face with the finely carved features has a chin of square section and an open mouth showing of the teeth filed at a peak, the bored aquiline nose of two nostrils is framed of two large eyes in form of coffee beans under arched eyebrows, the ears in high relief carry earrings in glass shots turquoises, while the chin, the temples and the face are decorated with scarifications; it carries a carved hairstyle of six rectangular sections; very beautiful brilliant patina chestnut, remainders of pigments black and white Bibliographie : Bruxelles, Utotomb : L'Art d'Afrique Noire dans les collections privées belges, 1988 : figure 187 Exposition : Bruxelles, Palais des Beaux-Arts, 25 mars-5 juin 1988 |
| SOTHEBY'S ARTS OF AFRICA, OCEANIA AND THE AMERICAS SALE N07902 AUCTION DATE 15 May 03 10:15 AM. LOCATION New York LOT 91 A FINE TSHOKWE MASK ESTIMATE 20,000—30,000 USD Lot Sold. Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium: 42,000 USD MEASUREMENTS height 8in. 20.3cm DESCRIPTION pwo, of deeply hollowed form, the rounded chin beneath an oval mouth with pointed teeth framed by large, pierced coffee-bean eyes inset into circular sockets with small, pierced ears on either side, and decorated with incised scarification at the chin, cheeks and forehead, the headdress of woven fiber with strands of twisted cord and glass beads attached at the perimeter; fine reddish patina with areas of black pigment. Provenance: Collected by Hans Himmelheber, Heidelberg, Germany, before World War II Kegel-Konietzko Family, Hamburg Acquired from Pace Gallery, New York, 1991 Bastin (personal communication) has written the following about this mask: it is the 'evocation of the feminine ancestor, protector of the lineage, this spirit propitious to fecundity that is personified by a dance mask [and] is the female counterpart of Cihongo. Like the male mask, the feminine one, would, in old times, go on a tour of exhibitions in the villages, dispensing to the public her spiritual qualities favorable to fecundity; and teaching woman grace [and] manners. The face of this pwo or mwana pwo, is composed of a beautiful oval-convex form, with a beautiful outline--eyes half-closed, drawn, are inscribed in the interior of concave parallel orbits. The tip of the nose, long and narrow, that occupies with elegance the central part of the face....The stylization of the ears is remarkable: recreating anatomic details with originality worthy of a 'master' sculptor. ....The thick eyebrows as well as the lips--of a very dark black--have been accentuated by a red-hot iron blade, also used in a light touch of the scarifications and on the narrow diadem, or kaponde, carved over the forehead. A second kaponde, in woven fiber, situated just at the back, forms the point of departure of the wig, composed by wicks of woven fibers, impregnated with red clay, mukundu, mixed with castor oil, mono.' According to Bastin (in Herreman and Petridis 1993: 90 and 95), `the Tshokwe have a marked taste for creating well-made work which also has aesthetic qualities, which they themselves call utotombo, and this is found in an even more fully developed form in the creation of wooden masks by professional sculptors (songi) who have learnt their skills in a master's workshop. ...The dancer himself commissions the mask and, in the case of the pwo, at that point gives the artist a brass bracelet; the symbolic bride-price. From then on there will be a sort of mystic marriage between the dancer and his feminine mask.... the artist begins [the mask] by carefully observing a woman in the area whose beauty he admires.' He then executes the mask with similar scarification, coiffure and expression. |
| 32 masks on display at the Museu do Dundo. From Fontinha 1997:29, fig. 49. Dundo is a town in northeastern Angola near the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Chokwe and other related peoples share similar mask-making traditions on both sides of the border. |
| This illustration of an Angolan Pwo performer was published by Portuguese explorer Henrique Carvalho (1890:245). The mask is similar to examples found among Lwena and Luchazi in Angola south and east of the town of Mexico in Angola and in areas of western and northwestern Zambia. |
| Field photo from a 1920's post card featuring a Lwena Pwevo/Pwo performer holding a flywhisk and hand rattle made from a tin can. The mask dances with the women who clap and sing to musically accompany the performer. Photo from Baltimore Museum of Art From the FANTASTIC book "CHOKWE! - Art and Initiation Among Chokwe and Related Peoples" |
| A Luvale Mwana Pwevo ("young woman") mask performing during con-'irmatory ceremonies honoring Luvale Paramount Chief Ndungu. Zambia, 1997. Photo Manuel Jordan. A fiber-and-resin mask representing a more immature young woman, Chiwigi, is visible at right. The masks share the positive influences of the ancestral spirits with the community and show contrasting or comparable social and moral values. |
| Pwo/Pwevo mask with partial costume, mid-20th century. Luchazi or Luvale. Wood, fibers, pigment. Private European collection. Masks representing "old women" are mentioned in the literature pertaining to Chokwe and related peoples, but none were identified and illustrated as such until recently. Zambian field consultants identified this Luvale or Luchazi mask (retaining part of its original body covering) as an old woman, called Kashinakaji. |
| "CHOKWE! - Art and Initiation Among Chokwe and Related Peoples" a FANTASTIC reference book! |
| The article below is a fantastic reference on the Mwana Pwo masks... Click below to go to the article |
| REVISITING THE PWO Chokwe masks by Manuel Jordan |
| CHOKWE (BAJOKWE, BATSHIOKO, JOKWE, TCHOKWE, TSHOKWE) Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia One million Chokwe (at least 30 different spellings -- all based upon the name these people call themselves, Kocokwe, in plural Tucokwe) have spread out over a wide area in the eastern Angola, southern DRC and Zambia. Their history dated back to the 15th century, when a Lunda queen married a Luba prince Chibinda Ilunga. A significant member of the Lunda aristocracy so disapproved of the marriage that they migrated south to present-day Angola. Once settled, they founded several kingdoms, each headed by a god-king. Around 1860, following a major famine, the Chokwe people migrated back towards the south and settled in Angola, at the source of the Kwangi, Kasai and Lungwe rivers. The Chokwe are governed by a king called Mwana Ngana, who distributes hunting and cultivation areas. The male Mugonge and female Ukule societies regulate their social life. They are vigorous and courageous hunters and agriculturists, who used formerly to engage in the slave trade. Their dynamic spirit is also reflected in their art. Chokwe sculptors were the most famous of the region; there were two types. The songi made jinga charms, the small mahamba figures for the family shrines, and all objects used for hunting, love, magic, and fertility. In addition to the folk art, somewhat rigid and giving no illusion of depth, there existed also the ancient refined culture of the court, expressed with conviction by professional artists the fuli. They were hired by the great chieftainries and worked exclusively for the court. They sculpted scepters, thrones with figurines, fans, tobacco boxes, pipes, flyswats, cups, and figures of chiefs or ancestors – all demonstrating a great deal of refinement. They were famous for their large statues of deified ancestors, exalting strength and dignity. The best-known representation of a chief is of Chibinda Ilunga. He was a wandering hunter, youngest son of the great Luba chief Kalala Ilunga. He got married a Lunda queen Lueji. Chibinda Ilunga was the start of the sacred dynasty of the Mwata Yamvo of the Lunda and became the model of the hunting and civilizing hero, sometimes represented seated on a throne, sometimes as standing naked or dressed as a hunter. As statues of him were sculpted after the introduction of firearms, generally the standing figure is holding a stone rifle in his left hand and a stick, called cisokolu, in his right. Chibinda Ilunga’s body is stocky, with legs bent, shoulder blades clearly drawn, the neck wide and powerful, the navel protruding. He wears an enormous hairdo, the sign of princely rank. The social organization, founded upon matrilineal lineages, has an equally large number of female statues, whether these be identified as the queen mother or a chief’s wife. The most powerful and important Chokwe mask is known as chikunga. Highly charged with power and considered sacred, chikunga is used during investiture ceremonies of a chief and sacrifices to the ancestors. These masks are made of barkcloth stretched over an armature of wickerwork, covered over with black resin and painted with red and white designs. Chikunga is worn only by the current chief of a group. The mukanda masks play a role in male initiation. The mukanda is an initiatory institution through which religion, art, and social organization are transmitted from one generation to the next. Mukanda training lasts from one to two years. Boys between the ages of about eight and twelve are secluded in a camp in the wilderness, away from the village. There they are circumcised and spend several months in a special lodge where they are instructed in their anticipated roles as men. As part of their instruction, the boys are taught the history and traditions of the group and the secrets associated with the wearing and making of masks. Mukanda masks are also made of barkcloth over an armature of wicker. They are covered with a layer of black resin, which can be modeled before it is ornamented with pieces of colored cloth. While in former times they probably played important roles in religious beliefs and institutional practices, many other Chokwe masks have come to be used primarily for entertainment. Itinerant actors wearing these masks travel from village to village, living on gifts received at performances. Most masks are carved of wood. The most popular and best-known entertainment masks are chihongo, spirit of wealth, and pwo, his consort. Gaunt features, sunken cheeks, and jutting beard of an elder characterize a chihongo mask. Chihongo was formerly worn only by a chief or by one of his sons as they traveled through their realm exacting tribute in exchange for the protection that the spirit masks gave. While chihongo brings prosperity, his female counterpart, pwo, is an archetype of womanhood, an ancestral female personage who encourages fertility. As an ancestor, she is envisioned as an elderly woman. The eyes closed to narrow slits evoke those of a deceased person. The facial decoration on the surface are considered female. Recently pwo has become known as mwana pwo, a young woman. It represents young women who undergone initiation and are ready for marriage. During the 17th century many Chokwe chiefs were introduced to chairs imported by Portuguese officials and adopted the foreign style for their thrones. However, Chokwe style and decoration were saved. The figures on the back, stretchers, and legs were typical Chokwe carving. The Chokwe have influenced the art of many neighboring peoples, including the Lunda, Mbunda, Luvale, and Mbangani. LWENA (ALUENA, KALUENA, LOVALE, LUENA, LURALE, WENA) Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia This primarily Angolan tribe lives partially in DRC and in Zambia. The structure of Lwena art is largely based on that of the Chokwe, but includes a more refined use of full, round shapes, and differ also by the coiffures and scarifications on the cheeks and forehead. Artistically, the Lwena appear to have focused their skills on carving female figures, which are also found on decorative ‘prestige’ objects such as canes, combs and finger pianos, and on masks. These differ from those of the Chokwe as their statues usually display a spherical cross-hatched coiffure which is often divided by a vertical ridge, and angular linear scarifications on their cheeks. All in all, it is a very female art related to a tribal social structure in which women play important roles, including that of chief. Source- www.zyama.com |
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