The use of masks is universal although there may be no word for mask in the culture using them. As transformative objects, they conceal the wearer’s identity but also reveal the meaning of the mask and what it represents. They are used for such diverse aims for it is mind-boggling: as a familiar historical or mythical person or gods or goddess taken from religions, plays, books, folk tales, dramas or mask dances; as priests, shamans, monks and local clerics performing religious or spiritual rituals; as one executing secret rituals known only to those who “get” the emblematic meaning known only to the group; or other “rites of passage” including initiations, creation myths, burials, agricultural events, feasts, dances and dramas where mythological beings, plants, animals, birds or other animate, inanimate or natural objects are in play. In some traditions as in Bali, masks of clowns, village idiots and even those with deformities provide slapstick humor and commentary to amuse the crowd, provide breaks in serious dramas and share public gossip about village denizens. Masks were used in ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome for different purposes and throughout Europe for carnivals, magic practices, pagan celebrations, fertility rituals and other festivities.
Showing 1–12 of 16 results
This antique Nuo Opera mask is Tudi Gong, benevolent Earth god with smiling animated face, long eyebrows, hemp beard and high decorative hat. With an honest gentle disposition, he symbolizing the power of good to defeat evil. Nuo popular in Ming/ Qing dynasties, there are few remaining troupes.
Chinese Noa opera mask is likely a female zhengshen – a benevolent gods with kind and honest nature and gentle disposition -symbolizing the power of good to defeat evil. Age and heavy use
Rare mask used in Noh Opera performances depicting Zhīxiàn – a popular figure of a wise, benevolent judge who resolved local disputes and was likely used in rituals to ask the gods for blessings, health, and long life. Signs of authentic wear from dance theater performances.
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This animated mask of a jokester folk character (topeng bondres) provides comic relief, entertainment, and social commentary in serious theatrical dance dramas. An asymmetrical caricature, its open jaw allows actors to tell jokes and interact with the audience. Collected in Bali in the 1970’s, it has authentic signs of use in performances and was said to be made in Sebatu in the 1920s-1940s.
This authentic danced topeng bondres Balinese mask is a clownish character in both mask dances and traditional historical topeng dramas. With an exaggerated smile and grotesque features, it provides comic relief. Carved by same artisan as1212B, they make great as a pair.
Similar to Balinese masks, this rare carving is a king’s mask (topeng dalem) with an intricately carved crown. Its white color symbolizes the king’s purity, refinement, and morality. Made from a heavier, dense wood, it requires more effort and skill to carve. Old authentic, traditional Lombok masks are scarce.
Masterfully carved authentic antique mask of powerful Monkey King Subali from the Ramayana with exaggerated simian characteristics made to present his power. Wear from use in Balinese drama theater presentations.
This authentic blackened elongated anthropomorphic oval ritual mask is strongly associated with animist traditions of the West Timor Atoni people. Its simple geometric features, broad face, and animal hide are distinctive Antoni minimalist carving traditions.
This very masterful and unusual Jauk mask carved by the Balinese community on Lombok has a sweet smile and moustache and eyebrows of animal hide and hair. The dancer wear gloves with very long fingernails moving his hands back and forth to generate anxiety in onlookers.
Timor masks are rare, intense, characterized by large roughly cut eyes and sometimes have no teeth. This one is not completely black from being stored in house rafters and also has no animal hide with hair attached to it. Its surface has darkened unevenly and there are white bits of white especially on the front. Threatening due to its lack of teeth, asymmetrical eyes and their lack of balance, ancestral masks are used in offering rituals designed to drive off malevolent spirits, scare enemies and perform ritual ceremonies and war celebrations.
Dayu mask of Balinese high-caste female Hindu Brahman, beautiful decorative piece on a museum quality metal stand.
In Dayak tradition, this vintage authentic hudoq mask has a white face paint around the eyes and forehead.and carved outlines with traditional upward curling moustache arabesques. Mounted on a museum quality metal stand.
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