RITUAL HAND CARVED WOODEN MASK ARMADILLO SKIN AND FUR, OAXACA, MEXICO,

Description

This mask was made in Mexico for the same tourists who hit the armadillos with their cars. Countless armadillos were killed but the locals were clever and sold many thousands back to the tourists in the form of these beautiful little masks. Most of these masks are made from light weight soft palm wood that’s easy to carve and polished or stained with shoe polish. The armadillo plates are sadly not cleaned very well and rarely sterilized which is not good because the armadillo can carry diseases but sterilizing can damage the mask.
This mask has been sterilized by a professional.
This mask like most of its kind appears to be untanned goat hide and armadillo plates on a hand carved piece of plan wood.
Vintage Wooden Mask with Armadillo Skin. Condition is “Used". Shipped with USPS Priority Mail.
I apologize for shipping being so expensive but I live a long long way from civilization.
5 1/2” tall x 4”
These masks were apparently made for the sacred armadillo ceremony dance of the Oaxacan and Zapotec peoples.