Vintage Small Rangda Mask, Balinese from Lombok (1265)

Description

This rare small Rangda mask was made on the island of Lombok, Indonesia by ethnic Balinese Hindu craftsman. Primarily Muslim, a Balinese Hindu minority ruled the island from 1750-1895 and Hindu temples (pura) have been centers for Balinese activities since the 17th century. It is either a child’s toy or a mask used to teach child dancers living in Lombok Balinese lore and religious and artistic expression.

Balinese girls are encouraged to “dance with their hands” and formal dance training begins at 6-7 years old. Body, eye, head and hand positions are difficult and require years of training and movements must coordinate with the music. Body positions and eye, finger, head, and hand gestures are very difficult to perform, an integral component of every Balinese dance, and require years of work and training for dancers to perfect.

Most Balinese villages have a sacred collection of dance masks containing the powerful demon-queen Rangda (meaning widow), the personification of evil and head of an army of witches and practitioners of black magic) and Barong is her opposite and enemy, the leader of the forces of good, and a lion-like animal with the ability to negate Rangda’s power and the forces of malevolence. Rangda rules an army of witches and practitioners of black magic while Barong is a lion-like mythical beast,  leader of the forces of good, her opposite and can negate her power and malicious forces. These mythical beings clash in the Barong dance (Calonarang)  wearing masks and Barong restores the traditional balance and stability.

Fangs, bulging eyes, protruding teeth, and angular elements on Rangda masks are designed to instill fear, trepidation, and resistance in onlookers.

This vintage mask is in very good condition consistent with its years of age and use. It has expected paint losses, scratches, and scrapes and an aged patina with a crack at its center on the rear side. Our two antique Rangda masks are missing their lower fangs and account for them being “de-commissioned.”

Click here for the blog Indonesian Dance Masks (Topeng): Spiritually Connecting the Community