wood, pokerwork, cord material (hemp), rattan, base

The name of the mask "mwana phwevo" - "young woman", refers to a mythical female person who died early and whose painful loss is to be recalled by the dance of the mask.

Her face with its strikingly luxuriant hairstyle corresponds to the common ideal of beauty. The eyes, which are always narrowed to slits, are meant to indicate that a dead person is depicted.

"Mwana phwevo" masks are danced by men. According to Hahner-Herzog, they appear at various festive occasions to entertain the villagers, especially the women, with graceful dances that often have sexual connotations.
H: 21 cm, H: 8,3 inch

Provenance:
Peter Loebarth, Hameln, Germany
Hermann Sommerhage, Duisburg, Germany
Werner Zintl, Worms, Germany (2007)

Exhibited:
Brussels, Belgium: "BRUNEAF, Brussels Non European Art Fair XVII", 6-10 June 2007 (not illustrated)

AHDRC: 0001523

Lit.: Hahner-Herzog, Iris, Das Zweite Gesicht, Genf, München, New York 1997, cat. 86

See description