This is a beautiful antique master quality hand carved old wooden Tibetan Tantrik mask.
Most of the masks are made of wood and are of human dimensions. In contrast with classical masks, the tribal mask maker it seems had more liberty of expression and could use his imagination more freely. The masks of the Magar and Gurung tribes are of hardwood covered with a glossy, high patina from exposure to smoke and butter fat. Masks of the lowland Tharu people are often of a softer wood, pigmented with polychrome or white kaolin clay. The Rai people are known to make house-protecting masks from tree fungus while some other masks are created from felt and goat skin.
Some of these masks supposedly been used for purposes of healing, oracle augury and life crisis initiations while others – in pantomimes on the occasion of village seasonal festivals or ceremonies dedicated to ancestors.
