1895.47.20

Collection type

Object

Description

Devil dance mask surmounted with a cobra and with an articulated mouth. [SM 08/07/2008]

Long description

Devil dance mask surmounted with a cobra and with an articulated mouth. The mask is elaborately painted with a green face and red open mouth. The eyes project out from the mask with two eye holes in the mask underneath them. The mouth is articulated with a small piece of wood on the inside of the lower jaw which enables the wearer to make it move while wearing it. The teeth are mostly painted on, but two large pointed teeth are carved in wood and then painted. The lower jaw is attached to the main mask with two loops of string tied through holes in the lower jaw and main mask. There are also two holes in either side of the mask and two in the top. These holes would be used to attach the mask to the weater. The snake on the top of the mask is painted with its mouth open and teeth bared. [SM (Verve) 09/05/2013]

Geographical reference

Sri Lanka

Asia > Southern Asia > Sri Lanka

Person

Field collector Unknown Collector

PRM source William Downing Webster

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1895

Date collected

By 1895

Acquisition information

Purchased: 1895

Materials and processes

Material Wood Plant, Material Pigment, Material Varnish, Material String, Process Varnished, Process Carved, Process Painted, Process Perforated, Process Tied

Dimensions

Width: max 160 mm, Length: max 250 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1895.47.20

Research and responses

The following notes were taken during a visit on the 9th July 2008 by Mohan Daniel, a mask specialist from Sri Lanka. He noted that this mask is has an unusual style of decoration for a Sri Lankan mask and might possibly not have been made there. The mouth of this mask is articulated and is moved by the wearer using his tongue. He rests a small projecting piece of wood on the inside of the jaw on his tongue when using it. [JN 15/07/2008]

Search terms: Mask, Dance, Religion, Dance Accessory