Accession Nr.: 99.28.1
Type: mask; religious or cult object; carving
Date of production:
late 20th century
Place of production:
Materials/Techniques: wood, hair, leather, carved, painted, gilt
Dimensions: height: 19 cm
width: 15.5 cm
On the island of Bali, masks like this (Indonesian: topeng) were traditionally used in dance performances; but this piece was probably made as a simple souvenir.

The distinctive Hindu-Balinese culture of the Indonesian island of Bali is pervaded by rituals, of which dance movements form an integral part. Their aim is to reconcile the harming forces and to restore the balance that is (inevitably) broken again and again.