Nicely Carved Small Wooden Mask, Unknown Origin rough carving or Japanning

or Japanning

beginning with January 1885 and progressing through to May 1888

11 5/16 x 8 1/16 x 3/8 and in good

and an incredibly constructed one in any case

Nicely Carved Small Wooden Mask, Unknown Origin rough carving or JapanningI haven't been able to definitively determine the origins of this small, nicely carved mask, which I purchased from the estate of an artist and collector and world traveller near me the closest match I can find, distinguished by the raised rims around the eyes and mouth, is Ngbaka, from the Democratic Republic of Congo. (reference photo included.) This one is of small scale, too small to be worn, but what wonderful carving of those eyes and mouth and