Native American Chief’s Mask
Materials
Wood and feathers presumably from a falcon.
Description
Circa 1700’s to 1800’s Very rare, feathered chiefs mask. Native Americans believed that the person wearing a mask would be taken over by the spirit that the mask represents. In this case a powerful bird of prey, the Falcon. Only a Chief or extremely high-ranking medicine man could wear a Falcon or Eagle mask, because this represents strength and wisdom. When this mask was not worn it was treated like a living being.