**First Time At Auction**

Central Asia, Nepal, Rai people, ca. early 20th century CE. A hand-carved wooden face mask that is perhaps meant to resemble the traditional Ganoderma mushroom masks carved by the indigenous Rai peoples to guard their dwellings. The ovoid vizard features a pair of ovoid eye holes that flank a button-shaped nose, a petite mouth beneath a bulbous top lip, curved areas near the temple that are perhaps indicative of ears, and a gently swollen brow, all covered in dozens of hemispherical protuberances as well as a layer of dark brown pigment. A fibrous strap along the verso shows how this mask would have been worn when on one's head during ceremonial use. Size: 6.125" W x 9.7" H (15.6 cm x 24.6 cm); 14.625" H (37.1 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Joseph Gerena collection, New York, USA

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#169122

Minor abrasions and nicks to peripheries, face, and verso, with light fading to brown pigment, and fraying and some loosening to fiber strand on verso, otherwise intact and very good. Nice preservation to overall form and pigment in most areas.