Description:

East Asia, China to northern Vietnam, Yao, ca. early to mid 20th century CE. An interesting group of five hand-carved wooden masks used by shamans and priests in Yao ritual ceremonies. Three of the masks have rough ovoid forms, bared teeth, eyes with delineated pupils, crooked noses, and a single horn projecting from atop the forehead, with two boasting bright pink pigment. The fourth mask has a red face painted atop a cream ground, with openwork circular eyes and a bulbous nose above full lips and tab-shaped teeth. The largest mask has a circular form with open eyes and mouth, a prominent nose, a bulging forehead, and an articulated jaw, all covered in layers of pink, purple, cream, and brown pigment. Lucite display stands for photography purposes only. Size of largest (circular face): 8.75" W x 11.625" H (22.2 cm x 29.5 cm).

Provenance: private Johnson collection, Los Angeles, California, USA

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#147536

  • Condition: All items have small nicks to faces, peripheries, and versos, with fading and chipping to original pigmentation, several stable fissures, and light encrustations. Nice earthen deposits and patina throughout.

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July 25, 2019 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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