Very finely carved hair, using a typical “knobbed” style of carving. This beautiful piece has typical Punu pronounced “almond” eyes, protruding full lips and wide nose, and there are scar marks to the forehead. Traces of old polychrome paints on the face in old ochre/yellow and browns. Below the chin is the holding handle, as the women held the mask up to their face instead of having it tied or strapped to their face, as is evident in many of the other masks. Old, stable age crack to the wood handle.  A VERY nice example of a 
Punu Gabon mask! 
18”  high.   Estimated age is 40-60 years.      
 AF14

$1,150