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I MOA: Eh127 a-c - Mask

Mask

Item number Eh127 a-c from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

Public

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Data
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Description

Mask depicting an animal head (a) that is painted black overall with a long snout, a rounded ridge running from the top of the forehead to the tip of the animal's nose, large protruding eyes with black pupils set in red, ovoid sockets. Two black and red ears are inserted into holes in the right (b) and left (c) sides of the head. The animal's long, slightly opened mouth contains 22 white teeth on the upper jaw and 21 on the bottom. A red tongue cut from thin leather extends out the left side of the animal's mouth and has three holes cut in a row near the end.

History Of Use

Mask is worn to represent a demon with a human body and a bear's head who is known as Mahasona or the cemetery demon. When two warriors fought and one was decapitated, a deity tore the head off a passing bear and placed it on the warrior's body, creating a demon. This demon appears in the dance series known as the Kolam, folk drama, as well as in the Sanni which is a healing ritual.