Vintage Rare Mask of King, Indonesia, Lombok, Museum Quality Stand (1322)

Description

This mask of a king (topeng dalem) was carved by a Balinese carver in the Balinese community on Lombok Island. It is an authentic mask used in in a topeng dalem dance that exhibits the king’s qualities: a refined, cultured, idealized, model leader and painted white, the color of purity. The dance honors kings and is also an offering to please the gods.

Many Balinese carvings and masks are ethnic folk art and a blend of Hinduism and its initial animism. Hindus on Lombok descended from Balinese who ruled there from the 17^th – 19^th century and comprise 15% of its population. Dance masks carved in Bali were carved from pulai wood that is resistant and easier to carve, but as pulai is not native to Lombok, carvers there use a variety of woods not found in Bali . Balinese temples celebrate their founding every year (210 days on the Balinese religious calendar) called an odalan with colorful decorations, food, fruit and floral offerings to the gods and mask dances.

Collected in Indonesia the 1970’s, this fine vintage mask was carved circa 1930-1940. These Lombok Hindu masks are rarely found for sale.  It is mounted on a Museum Quality Stand.