Shaman mask · Nepal, Middle Hills region · ID: 3038290
Michael Cichon, Bradenton, USA
Description
wood, slightly encrusted brown patina, open mouth with separate carved and inserted teeth, min. dam., small missing parts, slight traces of abrasion;
this particular mask was worn by the shaman himself, showing deformed or exaggerated features meant to surprise or convey a disturbing aspect of the ceremony. Like ritualists everywhere in the world, invoking a tutelary spirit, involved trance and psychic traveling. The shaman’s vision and experience enabled him to carve the faces of apparitions into wooden masks which were then transformed into animated things through the dances and rites carried out in secrecy.
The object Shaman mask with the object ID 3038290 was part of the auction 79th Tribal Art Auction on March 21, 2015. The object with the lot number 17 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,400 with an asking price of EUR 1,000.
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