At first glance this mask is typical of many carved by the peoples of the Ogowe river area of Gabon, but in fact it has many unusual features. The large down-turned mouth would have echoed the lines of the crescent eyes, which have been enlarged, perhaps for use by a neighbouring tribe the "better to see". The bold cross-hatching on the coiffure is found on a mask illustrated by Terrisse (1965, p.105, fig. 120).