What is this? Google image says black Americana string

Can anyone tell me what this is?
Google image search says antique / vintage wood string holder, possibly categorized as Black Americana, but its terracotta (feels lkke metal)
Any ideas would be appreciated.
Thank you!

 

looks african , and looks broken , missing pieces..

 

Yes there's some minor loss. I thought it was some type of art because of the piece hanging on the bottom reminded me of abstract art

 

This is the 2nd piece I found with it - African? Souvenir?
You can see in the last photo of the bottom back of it, that there's 2 holes on each side - I first thought that's where you'd use rope or something to tie it to your face, but they are so low the mask would be top heavy & not stay on?
Thank you again for any thoughts.
Happy Holidays!

 

similars listed as Mexican folk art

Terra Cotta Mask, Mexican Folk Art, Hand Painted Clay Mask, Colorful Masks, Antique Alchemy, Wall Masks, Aztec Mayan Mask, Tropical Garden - Etsy

Terra Cotta Mask, Mexican Folk Art, Hand Painted Clay Mask, Colorful Masks, Antique Alchemy, Wall Masks, Aztec Mayan Mask, Tropical Garden - Etsy

 

I'd say African-inspired.

I can see where the end of the string could possibly come out, but how does it hold string?

 

Especially the mouth - thanks!

 

I don't know! But it also said wood; I don't know if black Americana had or would use terracotta?

 

Black Americana is an art that portrays African Americans, in any medium, so also terracotta.
But this doesn't portray an American, it is an image of an African. Imo, it is an image as Africans are sometimes seen by non-Africans.

 

Both of them, although profoundly different in representation of human faces, have pronounced red mouth/lip color. I believe that is somehow significant, but cannot say exactly why.
Wiser voices here will know, I'm confident!