131 - Theater mask depicting one of the sons of the hunter Apa

Theater mask depicting one of the sons of the hunter Apa Wood, original brown and reddish patina, signs of wear on the interior. Monpa, Arunachal Pradesh, India 19.2 x 18.3 cm Provenance, according to the information provided: former collection of Éric Chazot, Paris. The broad forehead, marked by undulating lines, frames elongated eyes set beneath finely drawn eyelids. The prominent nose, the cheeks animated by curves, and the mouth turned up at the corners give the face a smiling, mischievous expression. This mask represents one of the sons of the hunter Apa who appears in the Yak cham dance. In this theatrical performance, the characters accompany a yak represented by a large structure brought to life by dancers. The narrative celebrates the origin of the yak’s domestication and the animal’s essential role in mountain life. The mimed exchanges and comic episodes lend a familiar presence to the heroes of this collective memory. General Bibliography Verrier Elwin, *The Art of the North-East Frontier of India*, Shillong, North-East Frontier Agency, 1959.