Description |
Two-dimensional wall hanging in the form of a mask, carved from a single piece of wood; Mask is oval-shaped and shows an elongated face with a shallowly carved headdress, possibly representing an animal, with different portions stained white, red, and yellow; Figure’s face is stained white and its nose and extended tongue are carved in high relief (a distended tongue is a sign of welcoming); Tongue and mouth are stained red, and a black dot is painted on each cheek and along each side of the chin; Each eye is inset with a cowrie shell, with the area around each eye either stained black, either with stain or resulting from whatever was used to attach the shells; Short length of native cordage is strung through small hole drilled through top of mask. |