Demon mask "lakhe" · Nepal · ID: 3036816

Name: Demon mask "lakhe"
SKU: 3036816
Price: 1000 EUR
Availability: SoldOut

sold EUR 1,000

Provenance

Ingrid Richter, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany

Size

H: 29 cm

H: 11.4 inch

Description

wood, encrusted blackish brown patina, red and white pigment, characteristic ferocious look: beetle-browed, large open mouth with fangs and the tongue stick out, headdress with drilled holes, mark on the forehead, slightly dam., missing parts (chin, right ear), cracks, abrasion of paint;
presumably depicting the demon “lakhe”. The “lakhe” dance is one of the most popular dances of Nepal. It goes back to a legend: “A town called Majipa is haunted by flesh-eating demons. One “lakhe” falls in love with a young girl in town and starts visiting the girl in human guise. But when he is captured, instead of punishing him, the king of Majipa offers him impunity and life with his lover if he promises to give up his carnivorous appetite and protect the children of Majipa.” Thus the once feared demon became protector of the people and is venerated by dances and sacrificial offerings up to nowadays.

The object Demon mask “lakhe” with the object ID 3036816 was last part of the auction 77th tribal art auction at June 28, 2014 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 21 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,000.

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