Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Java, ca. mid-19th to early 20th century CE. A fantastic topeng dance mask with a hinged jaw of a barong singha, a lion-like creature who is king of the spirits and leader of the hosts of good. The mask is actually held by the wooden handles at the top verso so they can manipulate the mouth - ferociously clapping the jaws open and shut during a dance or procession, and the rest of the person(s) are covered with a fur and cloth costume - sometimes a second person forming the rear legs. The bulging eyes are inlaid with glass and have a nice reflective quality, adding a lifelike energy to the face. Topeng is a traditional dance enacted in Bali and Java that depict traditional stories of kings, princes, heroes, and myths. Barongs purify and protect the community and the dances probably originated in ancient rituals honoring the ancestors and deities and later Hindu-Buddhist and Islamic beliefs were added into these ceremonial stories. Size: 10.5" L x 8" W x 18" H (26.7 cm x 20.3 cm x 45.7 cm)

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Dave deRoche collection, California, USA

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#177581

Heavy wear commensurate with age and use. Losses and weathering to wood along upper edge with old repairs of iron nails and a iron axel rod as the hinge for jaw. Old cloth tied to axel as well. Iron plates added to moth to reinforce pressure fissures. Chipping and discoloration to pigments. Nice areas of patina to wood and overall great age throughout.