Nepalese Middle Hills Shaman Mask

Magar or Gurung People, c. 1890–1910 AD, Middle Hills Region, Nepal

Superb shamanic mask from Nepal’s Middle Hills region, carved from a single block of wood into an elongated triangular form with a coarse surface structure. The mask’s minimalist, flat design exudes a powerful and harmonious symmetry, accentuated by the rectangular planes of the broad forehead and prominent nose. Almond-shaped eyes and an open mouth create an intense, haunting expression, while an unusual carved emblem adorns the forehead. The surface exhibits a deep blackish-brown patina, enriched with traces of soot, yak butter fat, and resin from ritual use.

Masks of this kind, characterized by their austere geometry and mysterious features, are classified as primitive, shamanic, or rural art and are attributed to the local hill tribes of the Middle Hills region—primarily the Magar, Gurung, Tamang, and Rai peoples. Their exact ritual purpose has been lost since the early 20th century, though they are believed to have represented ancestors, deities, or protective spirits. Shamans and ritual dancers once performed with such masks during ceremonies, funerary rites, and healing rituals. When suspended inside a home, the mask served as a protective talisman, guarding against malevolent forces.

The Gurung (self-designated Tamu, from Ta “thunder” and Mu “sky”) inhabit the southern slopes of the central Himalayas. Their belief system blends Buddhism, Hinduism, and indigenous animism, encompassing a pantheon of spirits and natural deities. Local shamans, known as Panju and Klihbri, mediate between the physical and spiritual worlds. The Magar, among Nepal’s oldest known tribes, dwell mainly along the western flanks of the Dhaulagiri massif and maintain a syncretic faith rooted in Bon, Buddhism, and nature worship. Both Magar and Gurung peoples produced strikingly similar masks, used for identical ritual and spiritual purposes—artifacts of power, protection, and ancestral veneration.

Good condition. Wear commensurate with age and use, chips and old fractures. Size approx. 39,0cm x 20,0cm x 3,5cm.

Provenance: Finnish private collection

References and further reading:

Magar, Encyclopedia of World Cultures, Encylopedia.com.(https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/magar)

The Gurungs, Thunder of Himal: A Cross Cultural Study of a Nepalese Ethnic Group, Murārīprasāda Regmī, University of Michigan: Nirala Publications, 1990.

Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Bishop's College Press, 1895