Q: Hey! I have a question if you or anyone else have any information about this mask. It hangs on a wall at home here in Sweden, but I have no clue about it other then I believe it’s from Malaysia. Varg, 775 A: Let’s go further south to Java, Indonesia.
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India has important traditions of masquerade
I thought you might enjoy seeing this Durga mask from West Bengal, India. It is15 inches tall and made of heavy papier-mâché. Durga is considered a primary deity in Hinduism and one of the greatest goddesses. Durga Puja is the biggest festival in much of Northeast India. Made for a professional Chhau dancer, this perfect piece, with its carefully molded crown, has been made of a molded fiber and plaster material that is quite strong, and then painted. This is a feature photo in the new reference book, Masks of the World, by yours truly. It should be available in about a month. Bob, 774
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Bone mask or not?
Q: I recently purchased this mask. I believed it is carved from bone, possibly fossilized. Sutures can be seen in the underside of the mask. I do not know the type of bone or from what animal. Neither do I know its origin. It measures 7.5″ long and 5.5″ wide. Feel free to ask any additional questions. Thanks for any info you are able to give me. Herbert, 773 A: Bones are an unusual medium for masks.
