Chane mask

Salta Province, Northwestern Argentina

11 inches, painted wood

The mask comes from the Chané-Chiriguano people of Campo Durán, Salta province, Northwestern Argentina. Chané Indians prepare the pigments using rock powder, plants and mussels, getting natural colors which are ground from rocks and plants. No commercial products are used. Pigment is applied with brushes made of acutí’s hair, a local rodent, as well as feathers from local birds. Human forms, such as this one, are depicted as well as many different animals.