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Silver Polypore Spirit Guard

To carve a mask or a spirit guard from a polypore mushroom is an ancient tradition with traces to various cultures and places worldwide. The polypores were traditionally considered sacred, some with medicinal properties. The masks and spirit guards were used for rituals and as grave guards of the shaman. In this case the silverplate creates a link to the newer tradition of silvercoating objects, such as a baby’s first shoe, or other objects with a sentimental attachment, in order to preserve it, to reminiscence of the sweet passing times. 

Polypore mushroom (Fomes fomentarius, Fomitopsis pinicola), silver

The project is supported by The Danish Arts Foundation 

Made for and exhibited at JORDBUNDEN, Art Weekend Aarhus 2020