This is a brass sculpture made using the Dhokra technique. It depicts the Muria sub-group of the Gond tribe from the Bastar region in Central India. 

For some of their rituals, like collective hunting, Marias wear bison-horn headdresses topped with peacock feathers and stringed cowrie shell frills.  The headdresses also featured in Gaur, meaning ferocious, dance of Maria symbolising hunting and the spirits of Maria.

This is almost certainly made for trade, as so far I have not come across any ritual use of this brass head. It is included here to showcase an art form rather than capture the cultural use.

Notice the details of strings, cowrie shells, choker-type necklaces, earrings, decoration around the eyebrows and solid horns.

A particularly noteworthy feature is the smooth transition of the face to the ears. See the side view. It is hollow and cast as a one-off piece; it is a superb piece of art.

A Dhokra artist, Sushil Sakuja (www.sushils.com), pointed out that the Dhokra technique uses the lost-wax method to produce brassware. Then the bronze finish is given, as bronze is not suitable for Dhokra sculptures. For more details on the Dhokra technique, please visit http://www.sushils.com.