Face

Rendered in a naturalistic style, this face has a pronounced, curled upper lip indicating the subject is not fully human. Small holes along the sides suggest the work’s use as a mask, yet there are no openings to allow a wearer to see or breathe. The rough surfaces of the eyes and mouth suggest they were once inlaid with shell, conveying a sense of eternal—perhaps supernatural—life to a face that was likely attached to an effigy or funerary bundle.