Small wooden mask made by the Nepalese Tharu tribe. The Tharu people are the oldest and largest tribe of original inhabitants of the Terai region on the border of southern Nepal and northern India.
Wooden masks such as this one, with the very intense and even somewhat grotesque facial expressions, are mostly used as festival-masks; they are worn by actors and dancers during special ceremonies and celebrations. Often when they are not as such in use anymore, they find their way into people's houses, where they are used for protective purposes; they are hung near doors or windows and used as houses for benevolent spirits, to protect the house and family against malevolent spirits and diseases.
This mask can be dated around the 1970's-1980's and measures 20 centimeters wide and 16 centimeters high. Being from vintage origin, it might show some signs of its age and previous usage, but overall it is still in very good condition. On both sides of the face, behind the ears, a hole has been drilled, so a cord can be pulled through to use it as a wallhanging.
