Indian Mahishasura Mask for Dussehra Festival

White paint, a tongue stuck out, and a very bad temper.

Craftsmen of Maharashtra, India, carved this Mahishasura mask for the Dussehra festival in wood in the early 20th century. Mahishasura is the buffalo demon defeated by the goddess Durga, and masks of the demon figure in festival performances and processions in parts of India. The large, tall face has a lattice-carved cap, wide eyes outlined in black, a hooked nose and a bared set of teeth with a tongue lolling out below. The wood is painted white, now flaking, and shows its age along the edges.

About 30 inches tall. The largest face in the room, by a comfortable margin.