Signature help on 2005 modern style wooden mask

Not thinking this is an ethnic piece, more decorative. It was at a thrift that offers returns for credit, so decided to grab it and do some research and I'll return it if not good. It would be for resale only.

Any help with the signature?

Also for folks who know art or woodworking, does this look like something with skill, or more amateur?

Whenever someone signs with an exact day and month of creation, it makes me think it might be more of a home project, but I suppose that isn't true for everything.

So what do you think about this? What looks like breaks in the wood is just lines in the wood. No cracks. Around 9 inches tall.






Clearer close up of the signature coming, but you can see the entire back.

 

Can't help with the siggy, but that is the North American way of writing a date.

 

Excellent point.

 

I see something like "Ernie S. Reich".

Debora

 

Thank you, Debora.