A monkey mask from the Terai region of Nepal

The Terai is a culturally rich and diverse lowland region located in the southern part of Nepal, bordering India. It is home to numerous ethnic groups, each with unique artistic traditions and spiritual practices. The mask likely represents a monkey or potentially another animal, often symbolic in Nepali culture and folklore. Monkeys are prominent figures in Hindu mythology, particularly in the epic Ramayana, where the monkey god Hanuman plays a key role. Items from this region are rarely sculpted with grace and aesthetic refinement, like this mask.