Beautiful anthropomorphic mask with natural brown patina, characterized by an oval face, convex forehead marked in the center by a scar ridge, slit eyes, dark circles, triangular nose, and prominent mouth equipped with aluminum teeth (one missing). The nose and mouth were made from a single triangular blank, and the nostril holes also had the practical intent of ventilating the inside of the mask during dances.
The eyeholes were originally provided with aluminum plates; traces are still evident.
The holes all around the perimeter of the mask that held the "dress" appear to have been made not mechanically, but by a needle or thin nail.
This mask was evidently attacked by xylophagous animals or molds that corroded the inner part while miraculously leaving the outer part almost completely intact. Viewed with a wood lamp, there is no evidence of restoration in any part of it..
Work collected in Africa and collected by Franco Monti who numbered it in his own hand 3743 on label on verso.