Vintage Carved Mask of a King, Bali (1301-12EBE) $105

Description

This Dalem is a traditional folk-art and ethnic mask  (topeng) from Bali made from pulai wood of a Hindu king (Dalem). He stares directly at the viewer while his high cheeks help express his poise and the ability to remain cool in a crisis. This is a fine example of a gifted carver able to express these qualities through brilliant modeling. Not simply a face covering, Balinese masks possess spiritual magic (tenget) and are seen as powerful, magical and as offerings to the gods. A five mask dance presentation by a gamelan and a single dancer called topeng pajegan often performed on the founding anniversary of a temple (odalan) includes this important mask. Set in an outer temple courtyard considered sacred, the dancer changes masks and costumes with the audience watching and executes five very different personalities. Stories presented are derived from the Hindu epics the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Babad Dalem histories of Hindu Balinese kings. This is folk-art at its finest.

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