Luvale. <em>Likishi Dance Costume Shirt and Head Cover with Pwo Mask</em>, late 19th or early 20th century. Fiber, wood, seedpods, hide, metal, 40 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (102.9 x 21.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.548. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_threequarter_installation_SL1.jpg)

Luvale. Likishi Dance Costume Shirt and Head Cover with Pwo Mask, late 19th or early 20th century. Fiber, wood, seedpods, hide, metal, 40 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (102.9 x 21.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.548. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_threequarter_installation_SL1.jpg)

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Likishi Dance Costume Shirt and Head Cover with Pwo Mask

Arts of Africa

This complete dance costume shows how masks are normally one part of a larger ensemble. The mask is sewn directly onto the costume of looped bark and fiber, which fits tightly over the body of the dancer. Seedpod rattles and metal bells added a musical aspect to the performance.

Although they are danced by Luvale men, mwana pwevo masks depict women. In order to own and perform with a mask, a man had to symbolically marry it by paying the carver a copper ring as a bride price. In so doing, the dancer made a commitment to honor and care for the spirit represented by the mask. In return, the dancer was able to earn his livelihood performing at local festivals.

CULTURES Luvale or Chokwe

MEDIUM Fiber, wood, seedpods, hide, metal

Place Made: Zambia

DATES late 19th or early 20th century

DIMENSIONS 40 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (102.9 x 21.6 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Arts of Africa

ACCESSION NUMBER 36.548

CREDIT LINE Museum Collection Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Dance costume consisting of carved wooden mask, painted a light brown with small mouth lines, sharp white teeth, and slit eyes. A headdress-turban painted black is sewn to the costume, made of coiled fiber, and forms a tasseled fringe at the rear. A body covering of netted fiber dyed with dark and light brown is woven into stripes against a natural yellow ground. Carved wooden nipples are sewn to the front of the costume. Figure stands about 5' 5". CONDITION: The costume had been fitted over a mannequin and displayed for many years in the African Gallery, 1st floor of museum, and is much frayed from handling by visitiors and dirty from exposure. Hands have suffered the most damage, in their extended position.

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Luvale. Likishi Dance Costume Shirt and Head Cover with Pwo Mask, late 19th or early 20th century. Fiber, wood, seedpods, hide, metal, 40 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (102.9 x 21.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 36.548. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_threequarter_installation_SL1.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 36.548_36.549_36.550a-b_36.551a-b_36.552_36.553_threequarter_installation_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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