Greenland Ammasalimiut

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This mask illustrates the rare corus of ancient masks of Ammassalik - an isolated region in the southeast of Greenland.

This mask evokes a grimacing and asymmetrical face. The preponderance of the almond-eyes with pierced pupils is highlighted by the modelling of the eyebrows and the grooves of the deeply engraved tattoos, initiatory witnesses which formerly ornamented the face of women. The torsion of the forms created by the artist on the nose and the distended mouth, refer to the necessity of the Angakoq (shaman) to be unrecognisable by the spirits, in order to avoid any revenge. The part blackened by the lamp which formerly covered the entire surface was mainly cleared, the mask is animated by the brown iridescence in the wood on which it was carved.