Pierced Lega Mask with Crosses

• Kaolin - Kaolin, also known as china clay, is a white clay mineral that is commonly used in the production of ceramics, paper, paint, and other products. It is composed primarily of the mineral kaolinite, which is a hydrated aluminum silicate. Kaolin is found in many parts of the world, but it is particularly abundant in the southeastern United States, where it is commonly mined. The mineral is formed by the weathering of rocks that contain aluminum silicates, such as feldspar and mica.
  
  The resulting clay is often mixed with other minerals and materials to produce products with specific properties, such as strength, translucency, and whiteness. In the production of ceramics, kaolin is used to make porcelain, which is known for its strength, translucency, and whiteness.
• Patination / Patina - In broad terms, patination refers to the exterior surface appearance of the timber, the effect of fading caused by exposure to sunlight and air over the course of a century or more, changing the piece to a soft, mellow colour.
  
  As patina is very difficult to replicate, it is one of the most important guides to determining the age of furniture.
  
  Patina is also the term applied to the bloom or film found on old bronzes due to oxidisation.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• African artefacts - Lega 14