Cherokee Booger Mask Value Guide

The Cherokee Booger Mask is a significant cultural artifact used in the traditional Booger Dance to mock and neutralize the influence of harmful non-Cherokee entities. These mid-century examples are highly collectible for their expressive, grotesque features and their role in preserving indigenous performance history.

What Is Cherokee Booger Mask Worth?

The typical price range for Cherokee Booger Mask is $150 - $165 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The quality and preservation of the animal fur and bone fang attachments significantly impact the $150-$165 valuation.
• Artistic detail in the carving, particularly the uniqueness of the facial expression, adds to the item's desirability.
• The condition of the wood, including the absence of cracks or significant rot, is a primary factor in market price.
• Provenance linking the piece to the 1950-1970 era of Cherokee craft production for the collector market.

How to Identify Cherokee Booger Mask?

• Look for hand-carved wooden construction, typically using cedar or local hardwoods common in mid-century examples.
• Identify authentic animal fur used for hair and bone or wood inserts for the characteristic fangs.
• Check for the specific 'Booger' aesthetic, which features exaggerated, comical, or distorted facial expressions meant to represent 'strangers'.
• Examine the interior for tool marks or signs of wear consistent with 1950-1970 craftsmanship.

History of Cherokee Booger Mask

The Booger Mask is a traditional element of Cherokee culture used during the Booger Dance, which was performed to weaken the harmful powers of non-Cherokee entities and intruders. The dancers would wear masks representing various 'strangers' or enemies and act out comical or disruptive behaviors to mock and neutralize these threats. While historical versions were made from buckeye wood or gourd, mid-century versions often used cedar or local hardwoods for the tourist and collector market.