ID Number

Title

Item Name

Culture

Material

Manufacturing Technique

Date Made

Place Made

Date Collected

Date Owned

Owner

Acquisition Date

Source

Source

Measurements

Condition

Accession Number

Cultural Context

folk drama

History Of Use

Soldier mask is used in the Kolam ceremony which is a dance drama performed for entertainment. The ceremony consists of three stages: the first shows the origin of Kolam; the second consists of the dances of human, animal and divine or mythical beings; and the third recounts a tale. In this case the soldier returns from battle to his wife who does not recognize him: he describes his battle experiences, then discloses his identity. This provides an opportunity for describing famous Sinhalese victories

Iconographic Meaning

Missing tooth, rounded ridges representing leeches characterize a soldier. Reference is to a soldier who after being wounded in battle paused to drink at a pool. While drinking, blood-sucking leeches attached themselves to his facial wounds. Some of these masks are much more grotesque than this example. Green can be used to denote an unusual character

Description

Mask depicting an ovoid-shaped green humanoid face. Wide open mouth, red lips, and white teeth outlined in black with one missing tooth. Holes below each eye. Rounded raised ridges that are painted red run vertically down the cheeks. Two slightly narrower red ridges begin at each mouth corner and extend out horizontally. The ears are green with red trim, and the thin eyebrows are black. The nose has a wide bridge and large nostrils. Black plainted hair, moustache, and beard.