Antique/Vintage Jetayu Mask, Museum Quality Stand, Bali (1208JKE) $650

Description

This exceptional polychrome mask (topeng in Java, tapel in Bali) of Jatayu blends Balinese ethnic and folk-art with Hindu cultural traditions. Indonesia was part of the larger Hindu Majapahit Empire (1293-1527), is now a Muslim majority but Bali remains mostly Hindu. Balinese masks are often made from a single piece of local pulai wood whose light color enhances pigments and durability and low density make it crack resistant and easy to carve. This rare mask was used for performances of the Ramayana, the massive, sacred 5th century BCE Indian Hindu epic and one of the largest ancient epics in existence. Jatayu is one of many Hindu mythical-animals and the vahana (vehicle) of Vishnu, one of the triad of principal Hindu gods (trimurti) and the preserver and protector of the universe. In the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, Jatayu fights the King of Lanka to free Rama’s wife Sita who was abducted by the King of Lanka. Although Rama finally rescues her, Jatayu is killed and forever honored as the Hindu protector of women. Mask are considered by Balinese as offerings to the gods. Personally collected in the 1970s, this is an outstanding and rare find in excellent condition with expected paint losses and scratches demonstrating its age and use. It is mounted on a museum-quality metal stand and is part of the VA Collections of Hindu-Cultural-and-Ritual Art and Deities-and-Legends.

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