A very rare and desirable Black Punu carved wooden mask. Punu peoples, Gabon, Africa. Provenance: Ex Jean and Marie Marcellis, France; Purchased prior to 1969. Blackened Punu masks are extremely rare unlike the more common white Punu masks, which performed publicly, these masks were surrounded by secrecy. Known as Ikwara-mokulu, which means "the mask of the night", they were worn during nighttime processions by the tribe. The dancer would have been covered and hidden under an assembly of cloth, raffia and fibers, reinforcing its supernatural character. The mask measures 15.5 x 6.5 inches , and will include a simple metal display stand. Provenance: Ex Jean and Marie Marcellis, France; Purchased prior to 1969, also a private Seattle Washington Collection.

Good, well worn, loss to small area of the back edge.