Punu Face Mask

Gabon

A Punu mask defined by a smooth, luminous facial plane set against a concentrated field of incision and a strongly structured coiffure.

Description

A face mask of the Punu, carved in a controlled and balanced form.

The facial plane is smooth and unified, with slit-cut eyes, a slender nose, and a small, closed mouth held within a calm, continuous surface. This central field remains largely unworked, establishing a quiet visual ground.

Above, incision is concentrated across the upper register: curvilinear lines, cross-hatched elements, and raised ridges accumulate around the brow and temples, creating a dense, structured band that contrasts with the stillness of the face below.

The coiffure rises in a bifurcated, horn-like form, deeply grooved and vertically aligned, reinforcing the upward movement of the composition. At the rear, a ribbed disc projects in profile, extending the depth of the form beyond the facial plane.

A fibre fringe at the chin introduces a soft, irregular edge at the base, counterbalancing the controlled carving above.

The surface is dark and lustrous, with stable patina and light wear at raised areas consistent with handling.

Context

Among the Punu, masks of this type appear in performances associated with the okuyi. Emphasis is placed on surface contrast, proportion, and the controlled relationship between smooth plane and worked detail.

Provenance

From the Felice Maffei Collection

Acquired in Gabon, 1971

Available on private enquiry.