ITEM 11942
Nuo Mask
Minority Areas, South China
Wood, lacquer
19th-early 20th Century
24 cm / 9.25 in
$13,500
The Nuo mask tradition is rooted in a shamanic/animistic tradition dating back thousands of years and preserved in remote mountains by the tribal minorities of SW China. The dramas feature heroic battles between the forces of good and evil and serve as a means to drive out devils and malevolent ghosts. This mask is thought to capture the character of a wise but strong leader; it comes from an old French collection and is one of the finest known.
