Antiquarian Art Co.

Vintage Iroquois Indian False Face Society Mask Native American


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Directory: Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Americas: American Indian: Pre 1930: Item # 1457700

Please refer to our stock # 1007 when inquiring.
Antiquarian Art Co.
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Connecticut
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Original Vintage Iroquois Indian False Face Soceity carved wood mask c.1930. Measuring 10 inches by 7 inches by 4 inches deep. Hand carved and paintied wood with traditional metal eye accents and horse hair. From a north eastern American collection. The False Face Society is probably the best known of the medicinal societies among the Iroquois, especially for its dramatic wooden masks. The design of the masks is somewhat variable, but most share certain features. The eyes are deep-set and accented by metal. The noses are bent and crooked. The other facial features are variable. The masks are painted red and black. Most often they have pouches of tobacco tied onto the hair above their foreheads. Basswood is usually used for the masks although other types of wood are sometimes used. Horse tail hair is used for the hair, which can be black, reddish brown, brown, grey or white. The masks are carved directly on the tree and only removed when completed.