This is a small Southern Abelam "notu" lightwood yam mask. Such small masks adorned the ritually grown long yams—both transforming the long yam into an ancestral spirit and honoring that spirit for its role in enabling the yam to achieve its great length (up to ten feet). This yam mask is unusual for its small size and tight composition. It dates to around 1930/40, is 15" in height. sold