Tchokwé mask from Angola in wood and pigments - Circa 1900

Tchokwé mask from Angola once owned by the American Abstract Expressionist artist Merton D. Simpson (1928 - 2013) renowned both for his work and as a dealer and collector of early African art.The Tchokwe (or Tschokwe or Chokwe) are a people of Central and Southern Africa, mainly found in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola.This “Cihongo” mask is the masculine version of the feminine “Mwana Pwo” mask. It boasts an exceptional typology worthy of the finest museum pieces, with a finesse of execution and a red iron oxide patina of the finest style: the large, rounded, unobstructed forehead, marked with the cross of Saint Andrew, the left ear adorned with a metal buckle, the half-closed eyes imprinted with kaolin and the scarifications under the eyes that actually illustrate tears, the shape of the nose, the mouth with blunt teeth set off on a platform. Its hardly surprising that American collector Merton D. Simpson wanted to acquire it to complete his collection.The Cihongo embodies the representation of a male spirit symbolizing power and wealth. It is the spirit of a notable who must bring prosperity to the village and dispense justice. In the past, only the chief or the chiefs son could wear the Cihongo. These masks are topped by a fan-shaped headdress adorned with feathers. During ceremonies, this mask was worn over the costumes or the initiation headdress, and the dancer of noble blood wore rattles to set the rhythm of his dance. His costume consisted of a knitted raffia jumpsuit with long sleeves and tights. Over this, a fiber skirt gave rhythm to his movements. The dancers went from village to village, and were paid for the beneficial influence of their performances.