Mask Item Number: 3461/6 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Wooden painted mask. Dark grey elephant face with bulging eyes, a curved trunk, large ears and two tusks. Red-orange and black scalloped headdress on top of mask, with smaller curved triangles in front of scallops. Three triangular protrusions in front of central scallop with circular protrusion below them. Linear and circular designs curved into circle. All protrusions are painted gold. Curved triangles also painted gold. Scallops have linear and swirl motifs painted across them in black, silver and gold. Gold horn-like shapes on either side of the headdress. Elephant’s brows painted black with golden dots. Triangular protrusions along sides of face with gold lines throughout. Elephant trunk hangs over wide open mouth and is framed on either side by tusks. Horizontal lines painted in intervals along trunk, done in black, maroon and gold. Area around mouth painted dark red, with white teeth along top edge. Gums are pink-orange. Outer rim of mouth painted black with silver lines throughout. Eyes are painted orange and red, and rimmed in red. Ears are painted orange-pink, with black, red-orange and gold lines throughout to highlight the inner ear. Elephant is wearing triangular golden earrings, with linear and circular designs carved into them. Mask has holes for eyes, nose and mouth. Both ears are attached to mask with nails. Piece of skin(?), with hole through one end, nailed to back of mask. Ink inscription inside of mask.

History Of Use

Represents a character from the Ramayana saga.

Narrative

Purchased in the 1970s by a friend of the donor, who was a representative of the Canadian government posted in Singapore. Thought to have been carved by either Ida Bagus Ngurah or his son, Ida Bagus Gelodog.