Chamba Wood Passport Mask

Small enough to hold in two hands. Strange enough to make you want to.

The Chamba of Nigeria carved this passport mask in wood and painted it with pigment in the 20th century. West African masks are considered sacred objects, reserved for rituals, ceremonies and initiations, and in many communities only initiated people may handle them. This one is animal in form, crowned by two upright horns and dominated by large round tubular eyes. A flat snout extends forward, mouth slightly open. Deep red pigment covers crown and brow, outlined with ridges. Chalky white surrounds the eyes and face, worn through to dark wood in places.

On a square base, held by a curved rod. It watches the room.