Dance Mask
Bali, Indonesia
Early 20th c
Provenance: Old Canadian collection
Historically Temple festivals commemorating the date of the temple’s foundation and other celebratory festivals have occurred at regular intervals at the thousands of temples on the island of Bali; and many of these include or are accompanied by masked performances. Masks with deformities usually represent comic characters. This mask represents a character with a cleft lip, a deformity that is not rare to encounter amongst the Balinese. The original attached eyebrows, moustache and beard are made from goatskin. The patina on the back of the mask indicates it was worn repeatedly.
Dance Mask
Bali, Indonesia
Early 20th c
Provenance: Old Canadian collection
Historically Temple festivals commemorating the date of the temple’s foundation and other celebratory festivals have occurred at regular intervals at the thousands of temples on the island of Bali; and many of these include or are accompanied by masked performances. Masks with deformities usually represent comic characters. This mask represents a character with a cleft lip, a deformity that is not rare to encounter amongst the Balinese. The original attached eyebrows, moustache and beard are made from goatskin. The patina on the back of the mask indicates it was worn repeatedly.