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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;all_fakes, post: 131265, member: 55&quot;]For sure a mask that is used will show signs of that use, often discoloration and smoothness in the cheek, chin or forehead area, or at the inside bottom if it is hand-held when in use.&nbsp; Depending on the culture, there will be other signs that a mask is intended for use.</p><p>Some types of masks have a small &quot;shelf&quot; inside, in the mouth area; the dancer grips this in his teeth.&nbsp; Northwest Coast masks intended for use, whether or not they have actually been used, may be &quot;dance rigged,&quot; having cords or straps intended to hold the mask in place. Heavier dance-rigged masks may have a strap often made of blanket fabric that dangles down behind and is intended to be tied to the back of the dancer&#039;s belt to balance the mask which is often front-heavy.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; However, many masks which were not intended for actual use are still not &quot;tourist stuff.&quot;&nbsp; Many Northwest Coast artists carve masks intended only for wall-hanging, rather than for actual native use; but at prices in the thousands they are intended for sale to serious collectors, museums even, not tourists.....</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; It is also untrue that items without eye-holes are not &quot;masks.&quot;</p><p>First, large NW Coast native masks often have no eye-holes; the wearer performs blind, and an assistant helps guide him; or again, the NW Coast masks intended to be hung on walls may or may not have holes for the eyes.&nbsp;&nbsp; At least with NW Coast Native items, the carvers call such wall-hung items &quot;masks&quot; if they are shaped like masks and I defer to their nomenclature.</p><p><br /></p><p>But I digress, or rant.....I don&#039;t recognize the culture of this mask, and would not venture to guess whether it was made for use, or is similar to ones made for use.&nbsp;&nbsp; It doesn&#039;t look to me like it has been used, though.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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