Minneapolis Institute of Art

Mask

Lumbo artist

Date

late 19th century

Medium

Wood, pigments

Culture

Lumbo

Department

Arts of Global Africa

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

The white masks of the Punu and their Lumbo neighbors in Gabon are used by dancers in performances during burial rites. The mask is intended to represent an idealized male or female ancestor. The white clay suggests the color of the dead, and the superbly accomplished face of this mask represents a young woman. Africa

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