Masks such as this very nice example are very typical for animist tribes living in the Nepalese Middle Hills region, especially in the Gurung and Magar tribes
They are made by first making a woodcarved model, which is extensively smeared with yak butter or ghee. The wet yakhide is then modelled over this wooden mould and then placed in the heat and smoke from a fire until it has dried in shape. Masks made with this technique can have a very wonderful (at least, we think so ;-)) smell of fire, smoke and ghee for decades.
Masks like this are used for protection; they are hung in houses near doors or windows to protect the house and family against malevolent spirits and diseases. They are the houses of benevolent spirits such as the family's ancestors and are regularly fed with offerings of ghee or wodka and the smoke of incense. Sometimes they are worn by village shamans during ritual or healing ceremonies.
This item is in good condition and has still a quite intense smell of fire, smoke and ghee. Its exact age is hard to say, but it can roughly be determined somewhere around the middle of the 20th century, or maybe even a little bit earlier.
Sizes; approximately 25 centimeters high and 18 centimeters wide.
