Mask
Indonesia - Sumatra, Batak
not available anymore
Size
H: 24,7 cm
H: 9.7 inch
Description
wood, middle brown patina, coiffure, eyebrows and eyelashes painted in black, teeth from silver metal sheet with red pigment, laughing mouth with pits at the corners, remains of cord for attachment, slightly dam.;
from the whole Batak region (Simalungun, Karo) it is known, that masks are used for the death cult and that they performed on occasion of funeral festivities for important person. Mostly in pairs male/female, accompanied by a hornbill - or horsehead mask “huda-huda”. Present mask reminds of the heads of jointed puppets “si gale-gale”.