MEASUREMENTS:  18" x 8.1 x 3.5"  ( cm 46 x 21 x 9 )

This is a large wooden mask with a handle, carved from dense hardwood. The design features simple, roughly carved facial elements with hollowed-out eyes and a slightly parted mouth. The minimalist style of the carving highlights a raw, primal expression. The mask’s surface appears weathered, lending it an ancient, timeless quality often seen in traditional Timorese craftsmanship.

In Timorese animist culture, which centers heavily on ancestor worship, masks like this hold great significance. They are believed to embody ancestral spirits and are worn during ritual ceremonies to honor the deceased and seek their guidance and protection. These masks serve as a link between the living and the spiritual realm, helping to preserve the balance between human and supernatural worlds. Ancestor veneration is a core aspect of Timorese beliefs, and such masks are sacred objects symbolizing respect, wisdom, and continuity with the past.