Accessories - Housewares - Finishing Touches - Odors in gift

Help! A friend generously donated several authentic African objects d'art to use as decorations for an upcoming event. The problem is that 1 large piece (wood and leather with shells) has a strong, unpleasant odor like beef jerky, or if you sniff too long, dead animal(?). I think that it may be uncured leather or yikes!, residue from a sacrifice. I am afraid to ask her for fear of insulting her, but the thing stinks so badly it is hiding in my basement wrapped in several layers of plastic with cinnamon sticks and whole cloves sprinkled in between. Can the smells be removed from it? She'll notice if the piece isn't displayed.

A.H.
Hi, could you surround the piece with any heavy fragrances such as a burning insense stick or something of that nature? Anything to mask the odor until you could get it cleaned might work if the piece won't be on display for too long.