ID: 700008608 Page link: http://vocab.getty.edu/page/cona/700008608	Record Type: Movable Work
Images: 1

Face mask (pwo) (pwo mask; unknown Chokwe peoples ; early 20th century; National Museum of African Art (Washington, DC, United State...; 85-15-20)

Note: Dark brown oval shaped female face mask with a broad forehead. The eyes are horizontal slits placed within large eye sockets coated with white pigment, the nose is long with pierced nostrils and the mouth is long and cut horizontally to form the lips. The back of the head is covered with a knotted, corded fiber coiffure.This mask represents a beautiful young woman adorned with tattoos, earrings and an elaborate coiffure. The original Chokwe name (pwo) referred to an adult woman who had given birth. The more recent name, mwana pwo, probably adopted under European influence, emphasizes youthful, feminine beauty.

Titles:

Face mask (pwo) (preferred,C,U,RP,English-P,U,U)

Mwana pwo (C,U,undetermined,U,U)

Catalog Level: item

Work Types:

pwo mask [300404773] (preferred)

..... (Objects Facet, Furnishings and Equipment (hierarchy name), Costume (hierarchy name), costume (mode of fashion), <costume by function>, masks (costume), ceremonial masks)

Classifications:

costume / clothing (preferred)

Creation Date: early 20th century

Creator Display:

unknown Chokwe peoples [preferred,VP]

artist unknown Chokwe (Chokwe cultural designation) [500203107]

Locations:

Current: National Museum of African Art (Washington, DC, United States) [500311458] Smithsonian Institution, Corporate Bodies (Corp. Body)

Repository Numbers: 85-15-20

Credit Line: Museum purchase

Other: Discovery: Congo, République Démocratique du [1000159] Africa (continent), World (facet) (Geographic)

Other: Creation: Angola [1000149] Africa (continent), World (facet) (Geographic)

Display Materials: wood, plant fiber, pigment, copper alloy

	wood (plant material) [300011914]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by origin>, biological material, plant material, <wood and wood by product>)

	plant fiber [300014031]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by form>, <materials by physical form>, <fiber and fiber by product>, fiber, natural fiber)

	pigments [300013109]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by function>, colorant (material))

	copper alloy [300010942]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by composition>, inorganic material, metal, <metal by composition or origin>, nonferrous metal, <copper and copper alloy>)

Dimensions: H x W x D: 39.1 x 21.3 x 23.5 cm (15 3/8 x 8 3/8 x 9 1/4 in.)

Cultures:

Chokwe (preferred)

General Subject:

ceremonial objects (preferred,purpose)

apparel (isness)

human figures

Specific Subjects:

	face (animal component) [300251798]
	.....(Objects Facet, Components (hierarchy name), components (objects parts), <components by specific context>, biological components, animal components) (AAT)

	female [300189557]
	.....(Associated Concepts Facet, Associated Concepts (hierarchy name), scientific concepts, biological concepts, sex (biological characteristic)) (AAT)

Provenance: Private collection, Brussels Galerie Dierickx, Brussels, 1969 Emile M. Deletaille, Brussels, 1969 to 1985

List/Hierarchical Position:

..... Movable Works

.......... Movable Works by class: decorative and utilitarian works

Sources and Contributors:
Face mask (pwo)	........ [VP]
	........ National Museum of African Art [online] (1999-)
Mwana pwo	........ [VP]
	........ National Museum of African Art [online] (1999-)

Subject: ....... [VP]

Note:
English	..... [VP]
	..... National Museum of African Art [online] (1999-)