African Kwele Mask

Wooden African Kwele Mask
$240-00

African Hand Carved Wooden Kwele Mask from Gabon

Size: 38 cm

The Kwele masks originate from the rain forests of Gabon on the western coast of Africa and are hand carved by the Bwete association. The Kwele masks represent the spirits of the forest and the bush and are used during initiation ceremonies and or at the end of a mourning period to promote well-being within a community. The Kwele masks act as intermediaries between the world of the bush and that of the village.

This Kwele mask has a W shape on his head is said to be the horns of an African animal.

Kwele mask are not worn in ceremonies and are instead shown to the spectators.

Each Kwele mask is an "original" work of art, individually hand carved, no two are exactly alike which adds to the value of each piece. The original nature of tribal art will be reflected by variances from the Kwele mask as shown, each piece of a specific style is similar, but not identical.