Antique Wooden Shaman Mask with Beard Line – Himalayan Region – ca. 1900 Wall Decoration

Authentic Antique Wooden Shaman Mask with Hand-Painted Beard Line – Himalayan Region – ca. 1900

Specifications: Hand-Carved Hardwood | Original Polychrome Moustache and Beard Line | Ritual Ethnographic Collector's Item

We proudly present a particularly characterful and rare piece of primitive and tribal art: an authentic antique hand-carved wooden shaman mask from the mountain regions of the Himalayas (Nepal / Bhutan border region). This ritual mask dates from the late 19th to early 20th century (ca. 1890-1920) and is in a fabulously weathered, unrestored antique condition.

Unique Iconography & Primitive Woodcarving

This mask distinguishes itself through its specific facial features and brings a powerful, historically weathered atmosphere to any modern or high-end interior:

• Painted Moustache and Beard Line: Very rare is the original, jet-black polychrome line of natural pigments applied around the mouth and across the jaws to symbolize male beard growth. Dark accents are also visible around the deep, rectangular eye sockets.
• Incised Forehead Decoration: Directly above the heavy brow ridge, geometric diamond and arcade patterns are carved into the dry wood, indicating the status of a specific tribal deity or ritual bearer. The nose is strikingly large, pointed, and powerfully modeled.
• Fair Age Wear: The wood surface displays a magnificent, bone-dry patina full of shrinkage cracks, historic dents, and a layered skin of ingrained incense soot, temple oils, and candle wax fumes.

Traditional Construction

Both the front and the deeply carved back bear witness to pure pre-industrial craftsmanship. The edges are softly rounded by decades of mechanical friction and touch. On the upper right side, the remnants of the original, hand-forged mounting pins or holes to which the leather carrying straps were attached can still be found. A thoroughly honest, genuine collector's item.

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