This is one of the smaller or "Cap" forms of the Beautiful (Schöni) Chlause or Silvesterkausen masks, made in 1980. The bearded male face, surmounted by a scene from village life where a family is planting crops in the Spring, creates an idealized vision of domesticity and a relief from the rigours of Alpine Swiss winter. The "Beautiful" Chlause masks are worn along with the "Ugly" ones to celebrate New Year's Eve on December 31st and also are worn on January 13th (the date of New Year's Eve before the institution of the Julian calendar). They are said to have been introduced to the region under church influence in the early years of the 20th century.