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- Dramatic C. 1900 Iroquois False Face Mask, Ex. Merton Simpson New York
Dramatic C. 1900 Iroquois False Face Mask, Ex. Merton Simpson New York
DRAMATIC C. 1900 IROQUOIS FALSE FACE MASK, Ex. Merton Simpson New York
Origin: N.E. United States and Canda (Provenance: Acquired from a collection in Falls Church Virginia. Originally purchased from noted New York dealer Merton Simpson in 1980.)
Period/Date: C. 1900
Materials: Wood, paint, metal, Horse hair/ hide
Description: A dramatic and expressive false face society mask (comes with a custom wall mount bracket with floats it a couple inches out from a wall). The mask was used in medicinal healing rituals invoking the spirit of an old hunch-backed man. Its exaggerated mouth is carefully formed and angular, reminding me of a (figure 8" that is pinched in the center! The eye sockets are enshrouded with salvaged sheet metal. The flowing grey horse hair especially gives the mask a noteworthy presence of an old man. The wood is quite old and oxidized, having acquireda varied dry patina on the inside.
Dimensions: Overall Height 18.5” (47 cm), width 7” (17.5 cm), Height of mask not including hair 10" (25.5)
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