Helmet mask ·  Indonesia - Sumatra, Toba - Batak · ID: 3032323

Description

light brown wood, blackish brown patina, elongated face with a broad mouth, a stripe of metal sheet across the forehead, real hair coiffure, circular opening on top of the head, rep., min. dam., cracks, slight traces of abrasion;
made of the trunk of a single tree. Present mask type appeared at funeral ceremonies, they should ward off evil spirits and should accompany the souls of the deceased on their travel to the realm of the dead.

The object Helmet mask with the object ID 3032323 was part of the auction 68th tribal art auction on March 3, 2012. The object with the lot number 137 achieved a sales price of EUR 16,000 with an asking price of EUR 2,000.

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Comparing literature

Sibeth, Achim, Mit den Ahnen leben, Stuttgart 1990, p. 78