Gabon
Punu Mask
Second half of the XXth century
COA provided
31 x 20 Cm / 0,450 Kg
Wood
Optional Base (contact us)
Fine piece with balanced volumes and slightly round, this african mask illustrates one of the many variations of the headdresses that go with the Gabon white masks, itengi (pl. bitengi). In indigenous art, this tribal Gabonese mask was associated to the different secret societies, like the Bwiti, and the Mwiri ("lead"), the later staggered in multiple initiation levels, in which all the Punu men took part, and its emblem was a cayman.