About the lot N° 69
Title : Very Fine Older Punu Mukudj African Mask, Period : Mid to late 20th cen
Notes : Older carved wooden mask with a heavy white kaolin clay covered surface and obvious signs of handling and wear. In Punu communities of southern Gabon, mukudj masks are considered portraits of an exceptionally beautiful female member. The stylized rendering of the eyes, represented as closed slits, evokes a meditative serenity while at the same time affording the wearer an unobstructed view of the performance arena he must negotiate. The application of white kaolin to the surface of the masks is a reference to spiritual transcendence. The white clay is a sacred material linked to the parallel ancestral realm of existence and also a cosmetic associated with idealized beauty. Mukudj dances are commissioned by community leaders to mark important occasions—to commemorate the memory of an important member of the community, to celebrate the return or the visit of an honored individual, or to mark a development that will enhance the community's well-being. The mukudj dance is performed on stilts of up to three meters in height, dancers must train from childhood to master the difficult and demanding choreography. During official celebrations, a mukudj dancer towers above his audience and executes acrobatic feats that demand agility, strength, and an acute sense of equilibrium. Because of the extraordinary nature of the performance, dancers are perceived as exceptional individuals who draw upon mystical powers to accomplish such a feat.Condition report : Eroded section on top and back, well handled, otherwise intact.Tribal Gatherings, auctioneer, Brigantine, US
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Sale title : Masks of the World : 100 Great Masks with $50.00 Start Bids and No Reserve
Sale date : 12 Mar 2016
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Sale Reference : Live Sale
