Vintage Nepalese iron spirit mask

Intriguing (spirit) mask from Nepal, from vintage origin. It's difficult to say whether this mask has been made to depict some specific spirit or deity, or that it's more a general facial image.

The very intense and even somewhat grotesque facial expression, reminds of the style of the Tharu tribal festival masks, but could also be a more ‘random’, general, anonymous wrathful face. In Himalayan regions, such images of freightening faces of wrathful spirits and deities can be found everywhere.

A mask such as this one could for example have been used as a spirit house by a traditional Nepalese shaman, but could also have been hung in a family house, serving as a protective wallhanger, working from the age old adage of “scaring away evil forces with an even more terrifying and forceful one”

As an active spirit house, masks such as this one are obviously not seen as mere decorational pieces on the wall and are regularly fed with offerings such as special foods, drinks, flowers or incense smoke.

This mask has been made of iron, and coated with a black paint. Being from vintage origin, it shows some signs of its age (some small oxidation spots), but overall it is in good condition and will be a great house for one of your personal spirit helpers.

Sizes; approximately 15 centimeters high and 12 centimeters wide.