Female face mask ·  India, Arunachal Pradesh, Monpa · ID: 3036814

Description

wood, remains of polychrome paint, smiling face with regular facial features, coiffure with middle parting and mark on the forehead, diadem-like headcrest, floral ear ornament, cracks (chin, diadem), abrasion of paint, coated with dark patina;
presumably depicting princess “jeimuh” (“lahmu”) or a female person of high social rank (“gonign” or “ama”, the mother). Used at dances of the ethnical group Monpa.

The object Female face mask with the object ID 3036814 was last part of the auction 77th tribal art auction at June 28, 2014 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 24 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,200.

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Comparing literature

Himalaya Masques, Suilly-la-Tour 2007, p. 46, ill. 28