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Mask – Wood – Kwele – Gabon

Name: Mask - Wood - Kwele - Gabon
SKU: 63.133
Availability: InStock

€ 125,00

In stock

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About this object

This round‑shaped Kwele mask shows the elegant, minimalist aesthetic for which the Kwele people of Gabon. Kwele masks (ekuk) are carved with smooth, flowing contours and are often used in Beete society rituals focused on protection, harmony, and community well‑being. The mask features a heart‑shaped face, one of the most recognizable traits of Kwele art. This form is created by the sweeping curves of the forehead and cheeks, giving the mask a gentle, iconic silhouette. The face is covered with white pigments, traditionally kaolin, symbolizing purity, ancestral presence, and spiritual clarity. Typical characteristics of Kwele masks present here include:

Rounded facial outline with soft sculptural transitions
White kaolin surface highlighting the purity and calm expression
Heart‑shaped facial structure, a hallmark of Kwele design
Minimalist carving, emphasizing form over detail

Kwele masks are admired for their refined simplicity and symbolic power, making them highly sought after in collections of Central African art. Provenance: Franco Rimoldi, Darmstadt (Germany)

Object	Mask
Ethnic group:	Kwele
Country:	Gabon
Material:	Wood
Estimated period:	Second half 20^th century
Sold with stand:	No
Dimensions:	21x191x4 cm
Weight:	210 gram
Condition:	Good condition, used with some signs of wear

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Yes. We carefully select every item in our collection. We provide information about the culture, material, age or period and provenance whenever this information is available. We do not knowingly sell reproductions as authentic antiques.

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