Indonesia, Bali or Java, 20th century CE. This is a gorgeous hand carved wood mask with wide, staring eyes, a pointed, upturned nose, black, incised hair, and gold and colorful details forming a crown atop his head. This is a Topeng -- actually the Indonesian word for mask -- which is worn during the dramatic dances enacted in Bali and to a lesser extent Java that depict traditional stories of kings, princes, heroes, and myths. In these dances, the entire story is performed by only four or five actors playing all the parts, both male and female. As a result, actors will have around forty masks like this one that are only his; there is believed to be a special bond between actor and mask and that when he dons the mask, he enters a kind of trance, connected to the spiritual world. This mask probably depicts a character like King Klana, strong with an energetic expression, and the white and gold mean that he is a noble character. Size: 7" W x 8.5" H (17.8 cm x 21.6 cm)

Provenance: Ex-Nikotovich collection acquired before 1980

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#113150

Expected wear, but nice colors that are still very clear.