Description

Mai mask consisting of a long and narrow face. Mask is made of wood and is covered in small white shells inset in dark brown-black mud. Area around eyes and nose is plain wood and coloured dark orange. Eyes are made of inset cowrie shells, highlighted with black paint. Sharp nose bridge runs through centre of face. Nose has orange nostrils with black highlights, before extending into a snake that protrudes past the chin; raised design elements on snake's face. Round shells, with swirls in their centres, inset in the centre of the forehead and below the nose, on either side. Plant fibre cord runs around bottom edge of mask, with twisted fibre strands attached, imitating a beard. Additional fuzzy fibre on top of head, imitating hair; inset cowrie shells border bottom of hair. Top half of mask back is concave; bottom half is flat. (Hanging hardware on back.)