14 UMMA Objects
Sort by

This wooden mortar is decorated by finely carved geometric patterns and features two anthropomorphic heads bearing recognizable Chokwe characteristics including coffeebean-shaped eyes enclosed in large ocular cavities. The lower head, the face of an idealized female (<em>mwana pwo</em>), forms the body of the mortar. The upper head, turned at a 90 degree angle from the lower head, is wearing a headdress which extends behind his face. Resting on top of the upper head is the bowl of the mortar.
Chokwe (Chokwe (culture or style))
Mortar
1865 – 1875
Gift of Candis and Helmut Stern
2005/1.205
Narrow staff topped with anthropomorphic head. The face has an elaborate coiffure and two lines werre incised as decoration at the top of the staff. 
Chokwe (Chokwe (culture or style))
Staff
Gift of Margaret H. and Albert J. Coudron
2001/2.50
This wooden Chokwe staff features a smooth, narrow rod and a large carving of a female figure at its finial.  The female bears an elaborate, ridged coiffure, closed, coffee-bean shaped eyes, raised scarifications on her face, torso, and back, rounded shoulders, arms positioned down by her side, and a protruding navel. 
Chokwe (Chokwe (culture or style))
Staff
1900 – 1950
Gift of Margaret H. and Albert J. Coudron
2001/2.69
This hour-glass shaped stool is supported by two caryatid figures who sit in a pose of lamentation&mdash;crouched with head in hands. Scarified patterned abstracted tears spill from their lower eyelids. Brass studs adorn the perimeter of the stool&rsquo;s seat, base, and figures. Both figures wear strings of black, red and white beads around their necks.
Chokwe (Chokwe (culture or style))
Caryatid stool
1850 – 1899
Gift of Candis and Helmut Stern
2005/1.204
This wooden chair has two squatting figures decorating the finials; one is elderly, bearded, and scarified, while the other is fresh-faced and young. At the lower left rung, two men carry a slit drum; between the caryatid figures supporting the chair’s front legs appear three men; the central slat has incised diagonal patterns called fuliko. At the center, what is possibly a pointy-nosed European’s face replaces the more habitual chikungu masker.
Chokwe (Chokwe (culture or style))
Chair
1900 – 1925
Gift of Robert B. Jacobs
1992/1.136
Anthropomorphic whistle with facial features, round torso and two round protrusions extending from the sides of the torso. The piece is hollow. 
Chokwe (Chokwe (culture or style))
Whistle
1915 – 1925
Gift of Candis and Helmut Stern
2005/1.202

Pende;Chokwe (Pende;Chokwe (culture or style))
Prestige Axe
20th century
Gift of Susan B. and John F. Ullrich
1998/1.52
A naturalistic rendering of a human face. Eyes carved in relief are convex and almond-shaped with narrow slits and are placed in round, concave eye sockets. Nose is slender at the bridge and rounded at the tip. The horizontal mouth is partially opened. Half rounded ears display metal loops, one includes a tag with the number 039641-HAV(?). The "hair" is attached with a cloth headband, covered in snakeskin, placed high on the forehead and is made from clay and red tukula powder. The face shows striated, scarifcation patters underneath and to the sides of the eyes; the forehead shows is a chingelyengelye cross motif. The patina is smooth and redish brown in color.
Chokwe (Chokwe (culture or style))
Pwo Mask
1885 – 1895
Gift of Candis and Helmut Stern
2005/1.201
Anthropomorphic whistle with facial features, round torso and two round protrusions extending from the top of the coiffure and from the sides of the torso. The piece is hollow. 
Chokwe (Chokwe (culture or style))
Whistle
1900 – 1971
Museum Purchase assisted by the Friends of the Museum of Art
1971/2.47

Chokwe (Chokwe (culture or style))
Initiation Mask
1900 – 1970
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Chet H. LaMore
1970/2.121
Standing female figure with her hands on her stomach.&nbsp;
Chokwe (Chokwe (culture or style))
Female Figure
20th century
Gift of Robert M. and Lillian Montalto Bohlen in memory of Nancy Turner Bohlen
2015/2.177
Oval-shaped face mask&nbsp;with slit eye-openings, a mouth with articulated teeth, and scarification on the forehead.&nbsp;
Chokwe (Chokwe (culture or style))
Pwo mask
20th century
Gift of Robert M. and Lillian Montalto Bohlen in memory of Nancy Turner Bohlen
2015/2.178
Loading…