83 - Anthropomorphic mask. Possibly from Asia, 20th century.

Anthropomorphic mask. Possibly from Asia, 20th century. Carved wood with a brown patina. It has minor imperfections consistent with its use and age. Measurements: 23 x 20 x 15 cm. Provenance: Estate of Ramon Martí Alsina and Ricard Martí Aguiló. Artistic and heritage collection originating in the legacy of Catalan painters Ramon Martí Alsina (1826–1894), a seminal figure of 19th-century Catalan Realism, and his son Ricard Martí Aguiló (1857–1935). Passed down and enriched across successive generations, the collection brings together works from the original holdings of both artists alongside acquisitions made by their descendants. Dedicated to preserving and recovering the family legacy, the descendants actively reacquired works by the painters as they entered the market, progressively expanding the collection to encompass paintings, sculptures, archaeological artifacts, and other items of artistic and historical significance. A carved wooden mask depicting a bearded male face with a smiling expression and strikingly accentuated features. Notable features include the narrowed eyes, pronounced eyebrows, prominent nose, and beard carved with deep vertical incisions, which lend texture and expressiveness to the piece as a whole. Given its physiognomic treatment and expressive character, the piece could be linked to Asian traditions of theatrical masks and folk dances, in which exaggerated features allow for the portrayal of different characters and the conveyance of emotions.