Chokwe mask, Angola. - Lot 181

Chokwe mask, Angola. Small in size, it illustrates a type of African Chokwe mask, among the many akishi or "akixi" masks (sing: mukishi , indicating power), which were accompanied by accessories and ornaments. They were worn by high-ranking men. Combined with their male counterparts, cihongo, recognizable by their tray-shaped headdress, thepwo were intended to bring fertility and prosperity to the community. The characteristic patterns on the forehead, and sometimes on the cheekbones, are part of the Chokwe aesthetic canons and also served as public markers of ethnic identity. The cruciform motif on the forehead, replaced here by a slightly raised band decorated with striated motifs, is also thought to have cosmogonic significance. These masks were mainly worn during the mukanda initiation ceremony, marking the end of the special bond between a son and his mother. The checkerboard scarring on the cheeks refers to the mother's grief. Dark glossy patina. Crack.25 x 13 cm Height on base: 35 cm.