Description: African Face Mask From My Personal Collection Item: African mask with 'crescent moon shape' profile, diamond shaped scarification on forehead, pursed or protruding mouth, and Cubist / Modern Art eyes. The mask is carved wood with terra cotta or rust color pigment. My research indicates that it may be a Punu or Bassa mask, although I'm leaning towards Punu (Gabon) due to the forehead scarification. I'm not an expert, though -- please do your own research in advance of bidding. I'll be selling about a dozen African art pieces within the coming days. Please know that none of them are in perfect shape, and I truly don't know how old any of them are. Some have repairs, missing pieces, old bug damage, fire or smoke odor, cracks, wear, uneven finish, etc. Markings: No writing. Age: Undated, but likely mid to late 20th century. I purchased this item second-hand back in the 1990's. Condition: "Used condition". As described above, wear, damage, fire or smoke odor, cracks, bug holes and erosion from termites, etc. aren't ideal but it's mostly just the result of the tribe leaving items exposed to the elements. Item is sold "AS IS". Dimensions: Approx. 14 1/4 x 6 x 5 3/4 inches. Origin: Africa. Features: I got interested in African art because I love Cubism and Modern Art. Artists such as Picasso and Matisse owned tribal art and this is what inspired their creativity (much like Japanese woodblock prints inspired the original Impressionists). Background: From the net: Most African sculpture was historically in wood and other natural materials that have not survived from earlier than, at most, a few centuries ago; older pottery figures can be found from a number of areas. Masks are important elements in the art of many peoples, along with human figures, often highly stylized. There is a vast variety of styles, often varying within the same context of origin depending on the use of the object, but wide regional trends are apparent; sculpture is most common among "groups of settled cultivators in the areas drained by the Niger and Congo rivers" in West Africa. Direct images of deities are relatively infrequent, but masks in particular are or were often made for religious ceremonies; today many are made for tourists as "airport art". African masks were an influence on European Modernist art, which was inspired by their lack of concern for naturalistic depiction. Since the late 19th century there has been an increasing amount of African art in Western collections, the finest pieces of which are now prominently displayed. PLEASE SEE MY EBAY STORE FOR A NICE SELECTION OF ART, ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES. CUSTOMER SERVICE Most of the items I offer here on eBay are from estates in the Philadelphia / NYC area, and are fresh to the market. If you have any questions, need more info, or want to set up a Preview appointment, please feel welcome to message me and I'll respond in a timely manner. Thanks for your interest, ~Chris
Price: 349.99 USD
Location: Pitman, New Jersey
End Time: 2024-08-27T17:03:21.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 14 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Primary Material: Wood
Model: Punu
Region of Origin: Africa
Type: African
Tribe: Punu
Maker: African carver
Material: Wood
Original/Reproduction: Original
Age: Post-1940
Color: Multi-Color
