In certain villages in the Alpine region of Appenzell in Switzerland, on December 31st and, especially, on the Old New Year on January 13th (hearkening back to the time before Pope Gregory II improved the Julian calendar in the 16th Century), "beautiful"and "ugly" masks known as "Chläuse" in the local dialect are worn. The maskers treck through the snow from farm to farm, yodelling and shaking their bells. They wish everyone happiness and prosperity for the new year and are rewarded with sugared wine and coins. The beautiful Chläuse (which come in two size alized human faces and carry on their heads elaborate scenes of domestic virtue in a harmonious nature. The "ugly" Chläuse (called Sylvesterklaus - Forest Goblins - in high German) wear masks made of rough-hewn natural materials and sometimes have distorted and grotesque faces. Appearing togther, the masks contrast the raw and dangerous state of nature with the refinements gained from harmonious village life. The masks in the Rupa-Pratirupa: Man and Mask exhibition (1996-1997) were on loan from the village of Urnäsch and are not the part of IGNCA collection.