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Iconographic Meaning

Open upturned mouth, white lines around it, and dark paint inside nostrils suggest this mask may represent a demon. White-red shade, however, usually indicates a benign character.

Cultural Context

ritual;exorcism

History Of Use

Mask used in either Kolam or Sanni ceremony. The Kolam is a dance drama with episodes representing village life in a satiric and humourous way. Characters are masked. The Sanni ceremony is a healing ritual in which eighteen disease causing demons are propitiated.

Description

Mask portraying Buta Sanniya (which represents derangement, distortion and listlessness of limbs) with a pink face that has arched eyebrows, semicircular eyes with crescent-shaped holes underneath, flared black nostrils, a mouth with upturned corners and a philtrum that points downwards. Three white lines on each cheek follow contour of the mouth corners, and the mouth and chin are outlined in white. A strand of twine is knotted through small holes on either side of the mask. The words "Buta - mad" are written in ink on the inside of the mask near the right eye.