Featured Tortoise shell carving mask

Don't know much about this other than it's apparently illegal to buy and sell? Is that true?

 

Wow,that looks old and very interesting. The decoration detail is great. Hopefully our knowledgeable members will know more..

 

Searching on-line, I find several of these that indicate they are carved skull plates from bovine or horse skulls. Source..... Timor Indonesia. Here is an example.

Atoni Amulet Carved Skull Plate (Timor) – Tribal Art & Antiques

 

It is made from the skull of a buffalo or cow, not tortoiseshell, so you are fine to sell it.
As Brad found, it was made by the Atoni of Timor, Indonesia. It is a nice old one, first half of the 20th century, maybe older.

 

Not normally my thing but that would be. Its beautiful.

 

he reminds me of mr potato head