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8”x 14” Antique East African Hand-Carved Makonde "Lipiko" Mask
Up for sale is a compelling, highly expressive African tribal mask, heavily indicative of the traditional Makonde (Tanzania/Mozambique) Lipiko or Mapiko style. This striking piece is entirely hand-chiseled from a lightweight native softwood and exhibits excellent ethnographic details.
Key Features & Artistry:
• Authentic Hand-Carving: The reverse side shows beautiful, distinct adze and gouge markings, confirming a fully hand-hollowed construction using traditional tools.
• Dinembo Scarification Markings: Notably, the cheeks directly beneath the eyes feature deeply incised, traditional dinembo geometric symbols. In Makonde culture, these motifs represent the sacred facial scarification and tattoos traditionally applied during initiation ceremonies to signify tribal identity, maturity, and spiritual protection.
• Traditional Labret Feature: Features a prominent circular ndona (lip plug/labret) on the lower chin/lip area—a traditional body modification historically worn by Makonde women.
• Realistic Embellishments: Embedded with genuine hair or coarse fiber along the scalp and defined eyebrows, paired with uniquely inlaid translucent glass bead or sea-glass eyes that give the face an intense, lifelike gaze.
• Hanging Utility: Complete with its original twisted natural fiber/raffia cord tied at the top.
