Masque Iroquois - Masque De La Société Des Faux-visages - Lot 41

Masque Iroquois - Masque De La Société Des Faux-visages False Face" mask in wood with black patina and red pigment, hair made of horsehair. The Société des Faux-Visages, also known as Ga'goh'sah masks, is the best-known of the many medicinal societies of the North American Indians, particularly the Iroquois. Wooden masks known as Faux-Visages are used in many rituals, particularly curative ones. They possess powers over the elements, and to ward off bad luck and disease. The morphology of these masks presents distorted features, sometimes close to caricature, sometimes amusing, sometimes frightening. These shapes are dictated to the shaman-healers by visions; these masks are considered very powerful and dangerous. The making of these masks is unusual in that they are carved from wood, while the wood itself is uncut; the mask draws its strength from the earth. The tree is cut once the mask is complete. REGION: USA MATERIAL: Wood, horsehair TIME: Reserve period, circa 1920 DIMENSION : 34 x 13 x 7 cm