Description

Wood mask depicting a bird woman. Face is heart-shaped with prominent brow and cheeks; sharp nose bridge divides face. Eyes protrude outward at an angle and are made of three tiers. Top of nose bridge is coloured with orange pigment; bottom half is covered in dark clay with small inset cowrie shells along the edges. Larger cowrie shells decorate centre of bridge. Below clay, crooked beak extends downward, covering chin. Same clay and cowrie shell design along bottom edges of mask; top edge is coloured with orange pigment. Mask is surrounded by an oval-shaped frame, wrapped in plant fibre; frame and mask are attached with rounded triangles, made of identical material. Woven into the frame are curved feathers; feathers are a mix of black and shades of brown. Mask back is flat.