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Central Asia, Nepal, ca. early 20th century CE. A hand-carved wooden festival mask depicting an expressive face with openwork circular eyes, a narrow nose with slit-form nostrils, cupped ears, slightly rounded cheeks, and an enormous mouth filled with gnashing teeth. Several incised zigzagging striations across the cheeks, beneath the eyes, and above the nose are indicative of ritual scarification, and drilled suspension holes through each ear enable the mask to be worn. Dark brown pigment covers most of the carving, and rich patina is visible in some areas. Size: 8.2" W x 8.7" H (20.8 cm x 22.1 cm).
The Himalayan masking tradition is not as well-known as those from Africa or Southeast Asia, and today some of the original information has been lost due to fading oral traditions. Masks like this example relate to indigenous, animist traditions that developed in the harsh, wild environments of the Himalayas, and so they are often representations of local spirits. They were made to be worn in masquerades, glimpsed through light from lamps burning butter as oil.
Provenance: private J.H. collection, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
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#151049
Condition
Repair to one side of face, with small chips and light adhesive residue along break lines. Nicks and abrasions to face, peripheries, and verso, with several stable fissures, and light encrustations within some recessed areas. Nice traces of original brown pigment throughout, and great patina in some areas where pigment has faded or worn away.