(Possibly very old?) Metal mask

[Shaynaniganz]

My friend was going to use this for an ashtray! I stopped him though and bought it from him and now I'm hoping to find out a bit more about it...... he found it in a house his demolition crew was going to tear down. There were many other antiques (even some ancient ones!) there and some were quite valuable. Hoping maybe this is also something valuable? It was wrapped in bubble wrap when he got it so I'm thinking someone must have cared about it. Any info on this would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.

 

[Ammoman]

Looks like C3P0...Cool find!

 

[DCMatt]

Size and location of the find?

 

[Shaynaniganz]

I have no clue where it was found to be honest and as for size, about the same size as my hand roughly I think..... I'll post a pic of it beside something to show the exact size as soon as I'm home. I'm on my way there now so it will be right away

 

[DCMatt]

Do a Google image search on 'lost wax African mask pendant'. You will see many varieties. Tourist item. $20

In other words, it will make a great ashtray.

 

[Shaynaniganz]

Just searched it, I'm not convinced that that's what I have here. In fact I'm 99.9 percent sure that this isnt the same thing. Those are pendants, to go on a chain that you wear on your neck. This is much too large for that. Also there is clay or dirt encrusted into the cracks on it. Makes me wonder if it was dug up from the ground maybe?

 

[DCMatt]

This is much too large for that.

Not really. This one is 7 x 3 3/4.

African pendants and Adinkra symbols: handmade from recycled brass using the lost wax method in ... Each pendant is created first in bee's wax, then covered in clay. ... When the mould cools, it is broken apart to reveal the finished brass

But you are free to draw your own conclusions based on your knowledge and experience.