Shaman mask · China, Yao · ID: 3038662
Michael Evans, Dijon, France
American Collection
Description
wood, matt greyish black patina, paper and pigment remains, beard from animal hair, plug on the head, slightly dam., minor missing parts (nose tip, rim backside), crack (chin), base;
the Yao are one of Southeast Asia’s many upland minority peoples. They live scattered in small communities across the “Golden Triangle” region of Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Burma, and extend deep into the southern Chinese provinces of Yunnan, Guangxi, Hunan, Guizhou and Jiangxi.
Their masks are worn by shamans during daoist rituals, during which the “mien fang” (“gods pictures”) are displayed.
The object Shaman mask with the object ID 3038662 was last part of the auction 80th Tribal Art Auction at June 27, 2015 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 13 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,500.
You can find more Masks and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on Asian art.