A Carved wooden dance mask embellished with kaolin clay pigments and black and white paints. The white masks known as Okuyi of the Mukudj male initiation society embody the spirit of a protective young maiden in the spirit realm, such masks as this example are believed to harness the powers of female ancestors. They are worn by stilt-walker performers during ritual ceremonies to request spiritual intervention in the hunt for malicious sorcerers and witches. Dancing on stilts up to three metres high, holding fly-whisks, and dressed in costumes of plant fibres, the dancers are a sign of authority and inspire a mixture of admiration and fear with their acrobatic performances. Such masks were also danced at communal rites such as funerals, youth initiations, and births. Punu peoples, Gabon, west Africa. This mask measures 12 inches tall x 6 inches wide and is a classic example with field use and great age. (There is no display stand included with this lot) Provenance: Ex Carl Zabel, New York.

Eroded and weathered, loss to bottom edges of the mask.