SKU: 51505912878

Punu Mukudj Mask, Gabon #171

Sale price$734.38 Regular price$815.98
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $204.00 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Aug 29 - Sep 3

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

Punu Mukudj Mask, Gabon #171Punu Mukuyi Okuyi Mask, Gabon #171 Measurements: 322316 cm Condition: Good, with a worn patina of Ritual Use and care. Punu Masks from Gabon, known as Mukudj (Mukudji or Mukuyithe names of the Ceremonies at which they appear and the Stilt Dances associated with them), represent an Idealized Female Ancestor, symbolizing beauty, serenity, and the Spirit World. White kaolin covered faces signify the Afterlife, and Ancestral Wisdom. Worn by male stilt

  • Punu Mukuyi Okuyi Mask, Gabon #171
  • Measurements: 32×23×16 cm
  • Condition: Good, with a worn patina of Ritual Use and care.
  • Punu Masks from Gabon, known as Mukudj (Mukudji or Mukuyi—the names of the Ceremonies at which they appear and the Stilt Dances associated with them), represent an Idealized Female Ancestor, symbolizing beauty, serenity, and the Spirit World. White kaolin-covered faces signify the Afterlife, and Ancestral Wisdom. Worn by male stilt-dancers, these Masks mediate between the Living and Dead, often in Funeral or Celebratory contexts.

    Key Symbolism and Meaning of Punu Masks
    Idealized Female Ancestor: Representing the "Most Beautiful Women", these Masks feature high-domed foreheads, elaborate coiffures, and diamond-shaped scarification (lozenge-shaped) on the forehead/ temples.
    White Kaolin Clay: The white pigment, derived from local riverbeds, symbolizes Peace, the Afterlife and Spirits of the Dead.
    Serenity and Inner Vision: The eyes are usually half-closed, reflecting Meditation, Inner Peace, and a connection to the Spiritual Realm.

  • Black Masks (Rare): While most are white in pigmentation/ painting, black-colored Punu masks (Ikwaras) exist, generally representing Judicial or Protective Functions during Illnesses or Witchcraft-related Issues.

  • Black Punu masks were believed linked to a Judiciary Process such as searching for Witches, an Enquiry into a Crime, or a Trial by Poison.

    According to Louis Perrois, the category "masks with black painted faces" make up about 8% of the corpus of the Punu Masks. The black-faced
    masks represent Angry Spirits, and are therefore considered potentially dangerous to handle them. According to Perrois (1979: 235) the black patina on Punu masks is presumably an index of its more serious or darker role in Judiciary Services, potentially Condemning the Living, whereas Punu Masks layered in white kaolin are used in Celebrations and Funerary Ceremonies.

  • Cultural Identity: Today, these Masks are recognized as a key emblem of Punu Identity and were sometimes displayed in Villages for their Cultural Significance.
    The masks typically feature a heart-shaped face with a small, pointed chin and are crafted from wood, often accompanied by elaborate costumes of fiber or raffia.

  • The creator of a "Mukudj" Mask would attempt to capture the likeness of the most beautiful woman in his Community. The Subject of this particular idealized and stylized portrait was embellished in classic nineteenth-century fashion with a coiffure composed of a central lobe and two lateral tresses and with cicatrization motifs on the forehead and temples. Kaolin taken from riverbeds, which was associated with healing and with a Spiritual, Ancestral Realm of Existence, was applied to the surface of the face. By using this material, the Artist both celebrated the Beauty of a Mortal Woman and transformed her likeness into a Transcendent Being.

  • Punu Masks were only worn by male members of the Mwiri society, who dance on tall stilts on the occasion of Celebrations marking the end of Mourning, and more generally at important social events in the life of a Community. Their joyful, acrobatic walkabout performances are reminiscent of their former role as initiators and guarantors of social order, the cleanliness of community spaces, and even the moral behavior of the inhabitants.

  • Origin is Gabon

 

Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 51505912878

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.1 ★★★★★
Based on 20 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
M
Verified Purchase
Manoge Jairam
Louisville, US
★★★★★ 4
Its nice
My wife says i look like a pimp...its not my usual style but for $12 its nice...its exactly as seen in pucture...dont know how long the printed pattern will last but it feels like it will hold up...fits as it should...
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2025
C
Verified Purchase
Charisma Bondonese
Lake Worth, US
★★★★★ 5
Love it!
This shirt was absolutely gorgeous on me. I went to a wedding and my girlfriend loved me in it. It’s good quality, nice material, it doesn’t wrinkle easily. Great design and it was worth every penny. I felt like a million dollars in it!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2024
M
Verified Purchase
Mickey
Charlottesville, US
★★★★★ 5
Very nice shirt
This is a fantastic shirt. The fabric is wonderful and feels great, and it resists wrinkles very well.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2025
T
Verified Purchase
Tony G.
Massapequa, US
★★★★★ 5
Shirt WOW!
A beautiful shirt it makes me feel like a billionaire. Worth every penny. I have some expensive shirt and this one out beat by far all of them and it wasn’t expensive.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2024
S
Verified Purchase
sir_mach
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 3
Shiny Gold
Nice comfortable shirt, fit good, but the gold color was shiny, kind of disco-like. Way too much for me and definitely did not expect that, doesn't come through in photos.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2023

recommand products