Face Mask Nepal First Half Of The 20th Century Wood And Wax

FACE MASK
Nepal
First half of the 20th century
Wood and wax
H. 24.5; W.: 19 cm

Oval-shaped mask whose half-open mouth is perforated, in the shape of a crescent moon, expressing a pout. Its eyes are wide open, ovoid in shape, underlined by two eyebrow arches, its nose has openwork nostrils and its ears are pierced. Mask attributed to Nepalese Buddhist societies such as Rai or Tamang. The use as well as the shape of these masks still remain a mystery. It could represent an ancestor face, used as a theatrical character or even demons. It retains a trace of red wax, testifying to the customs authorization to leave the country. This system of control of works was put in place in the mid-1970s.

Ref.1873

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