Vintage Mask of a Strong King’s Minister, Bali (1301-17NBE) $125

Description

There are two traditional Balinese masks of the king’s prime minister (topeng patih). Both are refined, well-bred warriors from the second caste holding a prestigious position, and, like all dance masks, they are accompanied by a gamelan. This mask is a patih keras (strong minister) which is usually red or orange symbolizing a tough, intense and powerful person possibly prone to anger reinforced by his large bulging eyes, powerful stare, red lips and full black moustache. Court ministers are found in Babad Dalem, the Chronicle of the Balinese Kings and both the king (dalem) and his minister (patih) are normally presented in a mask performance named Topeng Pajegan where a single dancer interprets five legendary characters wearing full face masks. It is often performed for an odalan, the yearly celebration of the founding date of a village temple. Set in an outer temple courtyard, the dancer changes masks and costumes in full view of the crowd. Patih manis is usually the opening dance, and patih keras is often danced later on. Dancers choose 5 masks from about 30 to enact characters some of which are taken from the 6th century Hindu epic poems the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. This folk-art and ethnic mask is part of the VA Collection of Hindu-Cultural-and-Ritual art .

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