African mask ID help

Found this guy today. Looks familiar to me in this way and that, but maybe someone could help me with a tribal name or location. I'm pretty certain this is a tourist-aimed carving, though it is big enough to fit on my face. (No evidence of ever being worn, btw.)

Thanks as always!

 

It appears to be someone's interpretation of a Punu mask, from Gabon. Punu masks are supposed to represent the ideal beauty of a woman, and have been said to have been influenced by Chinese traders on the west coast of Africa (which may account for the eye treatment here.)

The mask traditionally is carved in different varying styles, but almost always features the color white (indicating the person depicted is no longer living), an elaborate raised hairdo, and triangular scarification marks on the forehead (rather than the vertical line shown here.)

So this may be attributed to the idea that different "styles" are still considered Punu. But, especially because of the way the eyes, and the chin/mouth is carved, and the rather "simplistic" attention to detail, I would say it's a fairly recent piece intended for the tourist/decorator market.

 

Wow. Thank you so much for the detailed and amazing knowledge. I appreciate it so much.

I realized that my two pics left one angle out-- the 'hair,' so to speak. That seems to comport with your comment about the elaborate hairdo:



Thank you again!

 

As a teacher myself, I'm not sure the validity of quoting Wikipedia as a source, but it does say:

"One of the well known Punu art objects are the white masks with nine dots on the forehead symbolizing the nine Punu clans, now known as the Punu masks.The masks are life size, they can cover a persons face."

...There are nine raised 'knobs' in the scarification mark line on my mask. So more corroborating evidence for your attribution.

 

Several of the features of your mask - the white pigment, vertical scarification on the cheeks and forehead, the toothy grin - can be found on Okoroshi (Spirit Maiden) masks of the Igbo/Ibo of Nigeria.


http://kennethpaullesko.com/Exhibitions/African-Tribal-Art/Igbo-Mask.htm


https://www.hamillgallery.com/IGBO/IgboOkoroshiMasks/IgboOkoroshiMasks.html

 

Wow again. Yes the exaggerated teeth and grin are prominent.

There's definitely similarities between mine and others of these online.

Thank you too for the additional possibility. I appreciate it!