Cedar wood mask, "Mystical Jaguar"

From El Salvador's Jaguar Archaeological Project, this mask evokes fierce mystical elegance. It replicates a sculpture found in the Ahuachapan Department. It is carved by hand from a cedar wood branch, for the Project is committed to preserving the environment and not cutting down trees. Painted details enhance the mask's features including a protruding nose, exposed teeth and ornate eyes.

Throughout El Salvador there have been found images depicting the jaguar with a crest, big mouth and fangs, as well as an inverted "u" shaped nostrils and swirling eyes. Known as Balam or Chac, according to Maya cosmogony the jaguar represents nature's elements: water, earth, fire, and air. Maya shamans, priests and rulers used the jaguar as a symbol of authority and leadership. The upper part of the head usually represents life elements, and the lower part connotes a skeleton. Jaguar masks are believed to represent the transformation of a human into a being with magical powers.