Nepalese Copper Lakhe Festival Mask

Nepalese Copper Lakhe Festival Mask, 19th Century AD. Originally Lakhe or Lakey was a forest demon in Newar folklore. The Newar live in the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. Later the demon was converted from his former nasty ways by villagers and put to good. He became a popular and playful protector of the Newar – a reformed demon working on the inside to ward off bad demons. This is a festival mask is made of copper repousse and has nearly all its original bright red and black paint with silver detailing of the eyes and teeth. H. 10 3/4" (27.3 cm)..