Chokwe Makeshi Mask with Headdress Congo

Overall Condition: Good. Most of our pieces have spent decades on at least two continents, and have been treasured by several owners.   Small splits, scrapes and cracks are a normal part of their patina attesting to their age and extensive use.  We examine each piece carefully when we receive it and report any damage we find in our listings.  Please look carefully at the pictures which may also reveal condition and damage.

Damage/Repair: Cracks throughout the face, dirt, see photos for more details.

The Chokwe Makeshi Mask is a traditional mask from the Chokwe people, who are an ethnic group that primarily lives in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia. The mask is used in various ceremonies and rituals and is considered to be a sacred object with great cultural and spiritual significance.

The Chokwe Makeshi Mask is a carved wooden mask that typically features a human face with prominent facial features, such as large, bulging eyes, a broad nose, and a wide mouth. The mask may also have decorative elements, such as beads, shells, and fibers, added to it to enhance its appearance.

The mask is believed to embody the spirit of a powerful ancestral figure or a supernatural being, and it is worn by a designated member of the community during important ceremonies and events, such as funerals, initiation rites, and agricultural festivals. The wearer of the mask is believed to become possessed by the spirit, and as a result, is able to communicate with the ancestors and the spiritual world.

The Chokwe Makeshi Mask is a unique and significant piece of African art and culture, and it continues to be an important part of Chokwe tradition and heritage.

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