Description
Used Feathered Ceremonial Mask
This traditional tribal mask was worn in the Danza/Juego de los Diablitos of 2020-2021 in the village of Boruca and has been portraying the ancestors of the Brunka in this all-important tribal, socio-cultural-historic, event since anyone can remember.
Once ajusted to the wearer’s face, these masks truly transform the wearer’s aspect. Carved from one, hollowed balsa tree trunk segment and painted in a rather realistic rendering. One can hardly descern how the wearer can even see! This particular mask incorporates pre-European gold fittings on each side of the mask visage (remember, a diablito, fangs and horns and all, represent the ancestral-historic Brunka warrior/defender of territory, beliefs and custom). Fauna elements in the mask design, such as the keel-billed toucan represented here, have been featured in the facial aspect of the Brunka diablito masks since anyone can remember, only now, since maybe the late Eighties, the ‘fauna’ part, the nagual, or ‘totem’ animal, can become the main focus of a mask design (as in this piece it could be said).
Mask sold with accompanying photo documentation of this piece being used in this traditional tribal event in Boruca village.
- Tribe: Boruca (Brunka)
- Size: 11 3/4″ x 25 1/4”
- Artist: Santiago Leiva M.
