10 - Head

Head covered with a mask featuring a triangular forehead. Wood heavily weathered by time and the elements, with a very old dark patina and signs of wear. Tharu, southwestern Nepal. H. 52 cm. Provenance: Former Stéphane Mangin Collection. Publication: Éric Chazot, Liliane and Michel Durand-Dessert, *Himalayas – Art & Shamans*, Paris, LMDD, 2009, Volume I, No. 83. Although heavily weathered, this figure nevertheless retains the essential features of the face, upon which a mask with a triangular forehead has been placed. The deep erosion of the wood enhances its mysterious character, while the still-perceptible features convey a calm, almost serene expression. This presence, reduced to its essence, seems to hold the silent memory of ancient times.