{"product_id":"authentiek-antiek-chokwe-pwo-masker-gevlochten-vezelkapsel-congo-ca-1950","title":"Wall Decoration Antique Chokwe Pwo Mask – Braided Fiber Hairstyle – Congo – ca. 1950","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; color: #333; max-width: 800px; margin: auto; padding: 20px;\"\u003e\n  \n  \u003ch2 style=\"color: #8c7643; border-bottom: 2px solid #8c7643; padding-bottom: 5px; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 1.4em; letter-spacing: 1px;\"\u003e\n    Authentic Antique Chokwe Pwo Mask with Braided Fiber Hairstyle – Congo \/ Angola – ca. 1950\n  \u003c\/h2\u003e\n  \n  \u003cp style=\"font-size: 1.1em; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 15px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand-carved Hardwood | Original Raffia\/Plant Fiber Wig | Kaolin Eye Accents | Verified Ritual Piece\n\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nWe proudly present a particularly aesthetic and characterful masterpiece within the African ethnographica section: a legitimate antique hand-carved wooden \u003cstrong\u003ePwo (Female Ancestor) mask\u003c\/strong\u003e from the \u003cstrong\u003eChokwe culture in the border region of Congo and Angola\u003c\/strong\u003e. This ceremonial mask dates from the \u003cstrong\u003emid-20th century (ca. 1940-1960)\u003c\/strong\u003e and is in a fabulous, unrestored, and fully verified authentic condition.\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"color: #8c7643; margin-top: 25px; font-size: 1.2em; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd; padding-bottom: 5px;\"\u003e\nDeep Chokwe Iconography \u0026amp; Symbolism\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nWithin Chokwe society, the Pwo mask is worn during initiation rituals and village festivals to honor female ancestors and implore fertility. This object brings an intense, mystical, and texture-rich atmosphere to any high-end or modern interior:\n\n\u003cul style=\"padding-left: 20px; list-style-type: square;\"\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 8px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe Cingelyengelye Forehead Mark:\u003c\/strong\u003e Centrally located on the forehead is the deeply incised geometric cross mark, a traditional aesthetic tribal mark of the Chokwe. The edges of the carving are soft and show a natural, dark resin patina.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 8px;\"\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe Masoji (Tears) Scars:\u003c\/strong\u003e Beneath the characteristic 'coffee bean' eyes, vertical scar lines are carved into the cheeks. These symbolize the 'masoji' (tears), the respectful grief of the ancestral mother. The large eye sockets are washed with white lime (\u003cem\u003ekaolin\u003c\/em\u003e), the color of the spiritual world.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eCompletely Original Hairstyle:\u003c\/strong\u003e The absolute crown jewel of this sculpture is the voluminous wig made of hand-twisted and braided natural plant fibers and raffia cords. The fibers have changed color due to decades of use and carry the scent of historical temple oil and soot.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"color: #8c7643; margin-top: 25px; font-size: 1.2em; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd; padding-bottom: 5px;\"\u003e\n\nForensic Analysis of the Inside (Wear Patina)\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nThe back of the cut-out bowl provides irrefutable, laboratory-worthy evidence of actual ceremonial use by a Chokwe dancer, completely free of modern airport tourist clutter:\n\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"padding-left: 20px; list-style-type: disc;\"\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 8px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOriginal Braided Fiber Rim:\u003c\/strong\u003e At the top is the authentic, coarsely woven jute\/fiber headband that served as protection and comfort for the wearer's forehead. The fibers show heavy, natural aging and dust accumulation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 8px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eArtisan Adze Marks:\u003c\/strong\u003e The inside is deeply hollowed out with a traditional, manual gouge or curved adze, leaving a characteristic horizontal scale pattern in the wood. The surface displays an intense, dark, and mirror-smooth polished biological wear shine around the nose and eye areas, caused by prolonged skin contact.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"color: #8c7643; margin-top: 25px; font-size: 1.2em; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd; padding-bottom: 5px;\"\u003e\n\nProduct details\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; margin-top: 10px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px 0; font-weight: bold; width: 30%;\"\u003eDepiction:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px 0;\"\u003eChokwe Pwo Mask \/ Female Spirit (Tribal Art)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;\"\u003e\n\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px 0; font-weight: bold;\"\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px 0;\"\u003eHand-carved hardwood with kaolin, natural pigments and original braided plant fiber headdress\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px 0; font-weight: bold;\"\u003eOrigin \/ Culture:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px 0;\"\u003eDemocratic Republic of Congo \/ Angola (Chokwe tribe)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px 0; font-weight: bold;\"\u003eDating:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px 0;\"\u003eMid 20th Century (ca. 1950) – Fully antique ethnographic masterpiece\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px 0; font-weight: bold;\"\u003eCondition:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 8px 0;\"\u003eExceptional, verified tribal condition. Beautiful dark brown patina skin, hand-carved back with intense wearable luster, and a fully intact historical wig and fiber rim. 100% guaranteed nonsense-free.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n","brand":"1stbuddha","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57377487946059,"sku":"434","price":264.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1012\/6170\/5547\/files\/afrikaans-masker-opengewerkte-hoofdtooi.jpg?v=1779195510","url":"https:\/\/1stbuddha.com\/products\/authentic-antique-chokwe-pwo-mask-braided-fiber-hairstyle-congo-ca-1950","provider":"1stbuddha","version":"1.0","type":"link"}