Lot 223: A fine Punu Face mask

Punu, Gabon; H: 12"

Finely carved, with high rising bun coiffure and side fore-locks, incised in classical manner. The serene face with large crescent eyes and arching brows. Retaining original fiber beard, remains of white pigment.

Comments:
The distinctive �white face� masks of Southeastern Gabon with white-colored face, arching eyebrows and rising three-part coiffure may derive from the various ethnic groups who live along the Ngounie River, a tributary of the Ogowe, and thus are designated according to geographical rather than ethnic origin. They were worn by costumed stilt dancers said to represents the spirit of a beautiful women who returned to participate in funerals. The vast majority of these masks bear either raised scarification on both temples and in the central area of the forehead or, additionally, in the case of those attributed to the Tsangui, lines running from the nose to the ears. This particular example does not show evidence of any scarification patterns whatsoever, which may be an indicator of the ethnic group that made it. Conversely, the lack of scarification may represent a different function or be of iconographic importance.

Provenance:
- Zollman Collection, IND
- Gelbard collection, NY

Publication History:
Remnants of Ritual: Selections from the Gelbard collection of African Art (2003) Bourgeois & Rodolitz; Pg. 30, Fig. 67

African art in Cultural context (1988) Celenko, T; fig. 18.

Exhibition History:
Exhibition History: USA: "Remnants of Ritual, Selections from the Gelbard Collection of African Art":
- University Park, IL: Governors State University, February 2003
- Krannert, IL: Krannert Art Museum, 26 August-26 October, 2003
- Kansas City, MO: Belger Art Foundation/UNIVERSITY of Missouri-
Kansas City, 2004
- Park Forest, IL: Tall Grass Art Association, 2005

Price Realized: $15,000

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