Vintage Guatemalan Mayan Quetzal Bird Handcarved Wooden Mask for Sale

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Vintage Guatemalan Mayan Quetzal Bird Handcarved Wooden Mask For Sale

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Vintage Guatemalan Mayan Quetzal Bird Handcarved Wooden Mask:
$95.00

DESCRIPTION: Vintage Wooden Guatemalan Mask depicting the Guatemalan Mayan Quetzal Bird, the Symbol of Guatemala. Nicely carved with good detail.According to \"TramaTextiles\":
The Quetzal or, as also known, the Splendid Trogon, was taken as a symbol of freedom since Mayan times because of a popular belief according to which it would let itself die of hunger, rather than living in captivity.
The beautiful green feathers of the Quetzal were used by the ancient Maya to make diadems that only the most important people had the privilege to wear on their heads. These feathers were considered so precious that they were even used as a currency of exchange.For many centuries, the Quetzal played a very important role among the indigenous peoples of Central America, and was associated with the wind god Quetzalcoatl. The long green feathers of the tail were considered by indigenous people a characteristic derived from reptiles and therefore the Quetzal represented a sort of link between a bird and a snake and, consequently, a sort of link between heaven and earth. In many Mayan languages, for this reason, the term quetzal also took on the meaning of “sacred”or “consecrated by the gods”.
According to a Mayan legend, the warrior prince Tecún Umán, the last ruler of the Quiche Maya during the Spanish conquest, had one of the birds as a spiritual guide. Legend has it that when he died, the bird swooped down and landed on his bleeding body, leaving him with distinctive red feathers on his chest.
Another legend states that the quetzal sang beautifully before the Spanish conquest, but has been silent ever since; it will only sing again when the land is truly free.\"
SIZE: 12.5\" long X 8\" wide X 3\" deep. CONDITION: Nice Vintage Condition with some wear and tear from age. I can see roughness on nose, and some old injury to the right side feather carving with some design loss- see photos #9 & #10. Overall IMHO this does not detract from the beauty of this mask, which is a very nicely carved example.Please use photos to help determine appearance and condition, and zoom in as needed.
WEIGHT: 1 pound pre packing
Will be well packed in equivalent of Large Priority USPS Box. USPS Retail Ground also available. The cost is usually less for Priority than it is for USPS Retail Ground, as weight is not an issue.
PLEASE contact me before paying if you are buying multiple items and I will quote for adjusted combined shipping price. Thanks!
I have been buying Antique Trade Beads, Folk Art, Tribal Art and Antiques for almost 50 years, and had a Wholesale and Retail Bead Store in Greensboro, NC for some 25 years (Lost and Found Gallery), and am now semi-retired. We are just beginning to sell on . Please feel free to ask any questions you may have about the beads.
Sorry but we can only ship to the Continental USA at this time, but hope to expand in the near future.
PAYMENT:We accept PayPal, but hope to expand your options in the near future
SHIPPING:We Pack very well, insure, and ship USPS Priority unless otherwise specified

**ASK ABOUT OTHER SHIPPING OPTIONS SUCH AS USPS RETAIL GROUND FIRST PLEASE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED**