Banjara Vintage Shisha Mirror Tribal Embroidery Mask with Shell Tassels

Vintage Banjara animal mask with small cowrie tassels and metal bits.  This mask has four large old mercury glass mirrors that all appear to be in good condition. These pieces are made from separate small mirror pieces sewn together and used for protective decoration on animals.  They are called masks because they are placed on top of the animal's head or over the top of the face.  Mirrors, shells and metal bits are not only decorative, but offer protection from forces of evil.  There are a couple of smaller mirrors that are missing, but there are no cracked mirrors on this piece, and is otherwise in good condition.

Banjara women are holding tightly to their traditional crafts and almost every piece of fabric they wear has at least some mirror work or other embellishment to attract the eye. This same exuberance in adornment is extended to their animals and homes as well. In tribal life, animals are a valuable asset. Tribal women make these beautiful hand worked pieces from brightly colored fabrics, embroidery, shisha mirrors, beads, shells and other decorative elements worked into animal trappings and decorative pieces that protect as well as adorn.

Item No. TMM0032
Length: 10 inches 
Width: About 8 inches
Fabric Color: Unknown, this piece is completely covered in embroidery
Embroidery Colors: Deep blue, red
Materials:  Fabric, embroidery thread, glass mirrors, shells, mixed metal bits/beads
Other Embellishment: Shell tassels
Condition of Mirrors:  There are two missing small mirrors on this piece.  Four larger mirrors are in good condition.
There are no cracked mirrors that I can see.
Country of Origin: India
Condition: Vintage

I RECOMMEND PRIORITY MAIL SHIPPING FOR VINTAGE MIRRORWORK PIECES to minimize time in transit.

Please check photos carefully for condition. You will receive the exact piece(s) shown in the photos on this page. This is a USED piece that has previously been used as or adorned tribal clothing, accessories, household goods, animal trappings or other items. There may be small flaws such as frayed edges, fading, or wear, it may have raw edges or other flaws from repeated tribal use. Older mirrors may be scratched, cracked, or the reflective backing may be wearing off in places or perhaps almost entirely gone. Vintage hand made mirror pieces do not conform to exact measurements. Variance in length / width is to be expected.

A NOTE ON THE CONDITION OF TRIBAL ITEMS: Our tribal textile items are used tribal pieces from faraway lands. As used pieces our items may be frayed, faded or otherwise reflect their prior lives as treasured tribal pieces. Please know that we strive to maintain the tribal allure of our items and therefore we do not clean or repair these pieces in any way. This not only maintains the old, tribal look of each piece that our belly dance customers seek, but also preserves the value of a piece that the cleaning process may diminish.

We do our best to describe any flaws that may be present, and we encourage you to read the full description and look at all photos closely to judge the condition of the item for yourself and know exactly what you are ordering. If you have questions about the condition of any item, please ask!