Technical Characteristics

- Ethnic Group: Punu

- Origin: Gabon

- Type: Ritual double-headed mask

- Material: Carved wood, pigments

- Dominant Colors: White, red, brown

- Function: Funeral rituals, ancestor worship, initiation dances

- Symbolism: Beauty, duality, connection to spirits, fertility

 

Description

This remarkable double-headed mask is a ritual artwork typical of the Punu art from Gabon, known for its representations of idealized female faces. Carved from dense wood, it features two fused faces, expressing duality — between the visible and invisible worlds, day and night, male and female.



The raised scarifications on the forehead and temples, the coiled hairstyle, and the face covered in white and red pigments are characteristic of the Punu aesthetic. White kaolin is often used in rituals related to ancestors, funerals, or rites of passage.



This mask may have been worn during Mukudj dance ceremonies, celebrating beauty, purity, and the protection of spirits. Its double-headed form enhances its mystical role, and its rarity makes it an exceptional collector's item.

 

Provenance

Private collection ZAMBELLI/BRUGNACCHI, assembled between 1990 and 2023.

Transferred to the Spirit Land of Africa Gallery in 2023.

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