Atoni West Timorese Small Fossilized Coral Mask girl with cat I'm always on the lookout

I'm always on the lookout for object that might inspire creativity

of creating charcoal drawings on paper coated with marble dust

allowing for a good strong grip

The box measures 3" tall x 3 1/8" in diameter

Atoni West Timorese Small Fossilized Coral Mask girl with cat I'm always on the lookoutThis small carving is made of ancient fossilized brain coral (Symphillia, formed in the Miocene era 6 10 million years ago), and comes from the Atoni culture (also known as the Atoin Meto, Atoin Pah Meto, and Dawan) of Indonesian West Timor. As I understand it, masks like this were traditionally thought to contain the spirit of ancestors, and were kept inside the house to provide protective spirits for the home. (Relatedly, there is some really