“False Face” Mask, Iroquois People, Canada or United States

Face mask presenting a smiling face with strong, caricatured features. The half-open mouth, painted white, is smiling and presents a very big smile rising to the top of the high cheekbones. The nose is thick and the nasal bridge goes up and runs along the entire forehead. The eyes are inscribed in large cavities and are surrounded by aluminum nailed with small copper nails. The complexion painted red as well as his blond hair made of horsehair reinforce the expressiveness of this mask.
These masks, typical of the Iroquois nations, are called "False faces". This name comes from the “False Face Society” which is a medicinal society among the Iroquois.
These masks are used in healing rituals that invoke the spirit of an old man with a hunched back.
Those who have been healed by the society then become members.
One of the particularities of these masks is that they are carved directly on a tree and are only removed once finished. They are painted red if they were started in the morning or black if they were started in the afternoon.
They are made in a living being and are therefore considered in turn to be living.
These masks have different expressions. This one is smiling and is often linked to hypocrisy.
Iroquois masks are considered sacred and living and are very rare.

This one comes from the former private museum in Bamberg, Germany

Wood with beautiful patina from internal use, pigments, aluminum, copper, horsehair, museum label on the back of the mask.
Crack, some traces of xylophages.
H: 32cm
Iroquois peoples, perhaps Seneca, Canada or U.S.A.
First part of the 20th century
Sold with its base

Ref: 00KG0NILAN