This mukudj or maiden spirit mask is an idealized portrayal of feminine beauty, inspired by particular Punu women known to its carver in south-western Gabon. Its white surface, made of kaolin or white clay, evokes radiance as well as connections to the spirit world. Many African peoples consider kaolin to be sacred matter. Segmented lozenges on the cheeks and forehead may refer to the nine founding Punu lineages, whie the three-parte hairstyle simulates a type popular among Punu women during the 19th to early 20th century. When performed at various celebrations by expert dancers on stilts, mukudj masks sway slowly and gracefully high above a crowd.