NATIVE AMERICAN MOHAWK FALSE FACE MASK. Wooden mask, likely identified as a Mohawk False Face mask, is a type of ritual mask used by the Iroquois people, including the Mohawk. These masks are significant in the ceremonies of the False Face Society, a medicine society within the Iroquois tradition. The masks are traditionally carved from living trees, often basswood, and feature. These masks represent spirits and are believed to possess the power to cure illness and drive away evil. During ceremonies, members of the False Face Society wear these masks and perform dances and rituals to heal the sick. The Mohawk, part of the Haudenosaunee or Iroquois Confederacy, refer to themselves as "people of the flint" and were known as fierce warriors. Their cultural traditions, including the use of these masks, are rich and deeply spiritual. - Height: 12 1/2". Estimate $600-800
