Bidspirit auction | African Carved Tribal Mask, Chokwe

African Carved Tribal Mask, Chokwe People, Angola, mid-20th century - Finely carved wooden mask depicting a serene female face with downcast eyes and delicate scarification marks to the cheeks and forehead, framed by an elaborate coiffure and dense raffia-fiber and seed-pod headdress. Originating from the Chokwe people of Angola, masks of this form—often called Mwana Pwo —represent ancestral female spirits and ideals of beauty, fertility, and social harmony. The mask is carved from dense hardwood and retains its original woven fiber collar and vegetal adornments, showing a deep, warm patina from age and ritual use. Approximately 18 in. high, 9 in. wide, and 10 in. deep. Condition: Very good overall; expected wear, fraying to fibers, and seed loss consistent with age and ceremonial use.