Himalayan. GROUP OF FOUR MASKS - NEPAL. Carved wood with remnants of applied animal hair as mustaches, not dated but likely of considerable age (likely 17th to 19th Century), the largest 8 x 6 inches, all bearing Nepal's wax export seal. These masks, all with distorted faces, were used by shamans in treating the sick. All in excellent condition, with strong patination. See "Demons and Dieties: Masks of the Himalayas," by Thomas Murray, a 1995 article to be found at www.aisanart.com/articles/murray for information about masks of this type, and the reasons why they are considered to be so old.
