The Siddi tribe carved this animal wooden mask as a true reflection of indigenous craftsmanship that embodies their perceptions of nature and spirituality. The Siddis are an Afro-Indian tribe living in the Western Ghats of India; their territory is a blend of cultures rich in African and Indian tradition-spanning Karnataka.
The animal wooden mask is carved to depict a deer with special cultural and symbolic meanings. The mask is a creative product of wood carving and is a finely carved mask of great artistic merit, showcasing the tribal people skillfully converting a simply raw material into artistic expression. The deer-like animal represents beauty, grace, swiftness, and a bond with nature, all valued in the spiritual and physical life of the Siddi tribe.
Such masks are used by the Siddi tribe for worship of nature and spirits during ritualistic ceremonies and traditional dances performed by them. The mask would enable the performers to take on some qualities of the animal and thereby establish a bond with the deer spirit-a being that takes on great significance in the tribe's mythology and framework of beliefs. During significant events in the community, these masks are worn and used in rituals when the Siddis engage in conversations with the spirit world. The wooden mask of an animal represents not so much an adornment but a very potent cultural and spiritual artifact for the Siddi tribe, expressing their immense reverence for nature and their prowess in artistic activity."