Vintage Small Rangda Mask, Balinese from Lombok (1265GCE)

Description

This rare ethnic Balinese and folk-art Rangda mask (topeng) is among the Indonesian-woodcarvings and Balinese-wood-carvings made on the island of Lombok by  Balinese Hindu craftsman. Balinese villages in Lombok dance the same sacred Balinese-masks accompanied by the music of a gamelan percussion orchestra as in Bali as offerings to the gods and are also prectitioners of Hinduism. All Balinese girls are encouraged to “dance with their hands” even before they can walk and formal dance training begins at 6 or 7 years old. Body, eye, finger, head, and hand positions are not easy to perform, require years of training and movements must coordinate with the gamelan orchestra. As a key part of Hindu-cultural-and-ritual-art Art which overlays Bali’s past of animism, Rangda rules an army of witches and practitioners of black magic, and Barong, a lion-like mythical beast leader of the forces of good, is her opposite and able to negate Rangda’s power and the forces of malice. Both are most likely a result of Bali’s initial belief in animism before the arrival of Hinduism, and mask dances are considered as offerings to the gods.. The clash between these mythical beings occurs in the Barong dance called Calonarang portraying the battle of opposing forces with Barong restoring the traditional balance and stability of the village and its inhabitants. Although the island of Lombok in Indonesia is primarily Muslim, the Balinese Hindu minority ruled the island from 1750 until 1895. Their Hindu temples (pura) have been there since the 17^th century and remain as centers for religious and cultural activities for the Balinese. It is in very good condition with a crack at its center on the rear side.

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