SKU: 13260733430

Punu Maiden Mask Ikwara, Gabon #103

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Description

Punu Maiden Mask Ikwara, Gabon #103Punu Maiden Mask Ikwara, Gabon #103 Measurements: 11" high x 5. 25" wide The top "crown" above the beautifully carved face would have had human hair gently tacked into the surface to intensify the "humanity" of this Mask. High weathered but traces of red, black and white Ritually applied before the Mask's last Ceremonial use still remain. Circa 19409 50's Black Punu Masks are Rare: While most are white in pigmentation painting, black colored Punu

  • Punu Maiden Mask Ikwara, Gabon #103
  • Measurements: 11" high x 5.25" wide
  • The top "crown" above the beautifully carved face would have had human hair gently tacked into the surface to intensify the "humanity" of this Mask.
  • High weathered but traces of red, black and white Ritually applied before the Mask's last Ceremonial use still remain.
  • Circa 19409-50's
  • Black Punu Masks are 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) 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

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SKU: 13260733430

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Irene zamora
Boise, US
★★★★★ 5
great book
Format: Kindle
I am really excited to meet the author at the book retreat this month. I really enjoyed this world that she built and most of the female main character Huntress is so awesome. She goes through a lot in this book and the ending; wow! I wouldn't have even guessed. I highly recommend everyone to read this book. I have been so lucky this year that almost all the books I have read have been, so far, 5 out 5 stars.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2026
A
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Anastasia Goygova
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 4
Fallen for the Fallen Angel – A Guilty Pleasure Worth Every Page
Format: Kindle
There’s something deeply irresistible about a dark academia or trial-based setting, a brooding and arrogant fallen angel, and a fierce heroine with enough sass to go toe-to-toe with him. Wings So Wicked is exactly that kind of book—and I devoured it in just a couple of days. To be fair, the plot isn’t groundbreaking. If you’re looking for something fresh and innovative in terms of storyline, this might not be it. But if your reader heart beats faster at the mere mention of enemies-to-lovers, jealousy-fueled banter, magical trials, betrayals, and forbidden tension—you’ll feel right at home. It’s like catnip for those of us with this particular weakness. The chemistry between the leads could have used a slightly slower burn to make the tension sizzle longer, but I still found myself completely invested in their dynamic. There are moments and phrases that feel a bit cheesy or underdeveloped, but honestly? I didn’t care. The vibes were exactly what I wanted. This book isn’t trying to reinvent the genre—it’s here to give readers like me what we crave: high-stakes magical drama, angsty romance, and the thrill of watching a badass girl and her brooding counterpart clash and spark. If that sounds like your kind of story, Wings So Wicked will hit the mark. Here’s hoping Book 2 turns up the heat and keeps the magic alive.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2025
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Madi lohr
Boise, US
★★★★★ 5
my new favorite book
Format: Kindle
Ok so I never write reviews but this book was so good I felt the need to write this. Firstly your introduced to Huntyr you see her closed off hard core badass than towards the end you see the most subtle change and growth it’s amazing and the enemies to friends to lovers was just perfect, AND THE TWIST AT THE END GOT ME GOOD! You see one spicy scene the whole book but it doesn’t even MATTER BECAUSE THE BOOK WAS THAT GOOD. I’ve read 85 books in 2023-2024 so far and I’m pround to say this is my all time favorite. I’m so excited to read more of Emily Blackwoods books, this was my first time reading one of hers and I’m glad I did because HOLY!! Well done Emily well done
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Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2024
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Robin
Louisville, US
★★★★★ 4
Fast paced romantasy you will not want to put down!
Format: Kindle
4.25 stars! I LOVED this book with similar vibes to Hush Hush, Fourth Wing, and The Serpent and the Wings of Night! It was fast paced with easy world building and will keep you turning the pages late into the night because you will not want to put it down! Huntyr is a fierce bad@ss FMC trained to kill vampyres her entire life. She is sent on a mission to go to the academy and earn her spot into The Golden City. Upon arrival, she is forced to room with the delicious fallen angel, Wolf, who is the only one who knows about her assassin identity. The romance, the plot twists, the secrets revealed, the battles, and the tantalizing training scenes had me hooked! And that ending…. I’m holding my breath in need to know hell! Read if you love: 🪽 Fae, Vampyres, Fallen Angels 🪽 Academy setting with magical trials 🪽 Forced proximity and slow burn 🪽 Rivals to lovers 🪽 Hidden identities and secrets 🪽 Tend your wounds “𝘖𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥.” “𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘴, 𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘴𝘬.” “𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘷𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘴, 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶.”
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Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2024
B
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Bernadette Smith
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 5
Excellent Rivals to Lovers!!
Format: Kindle
The tension and banter between Huntyr and Wold was delectable. I absolutely love the fallen angel and all of his flaws. Huntyr is amazing too being a badass FMC with some major trauma. The world building was great and I enjoyed the training aspect of the story. The writing was immersive and was in the story the whole time. The ending had quite a twist that I hadn’t anticipated and made my jaw DROP. Excellent job! I also loved the narration. Laura is one of my fave narrators!
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Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2025

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