Q: I recently bough this thinking it was African , but it may not be. It looks pretty old though and worn, not a tourist piece. Do you have an idea where it may be from. I collect African things so don’t intend to keep it. Chris, 538
A: I can understand your attraction to this handsome piece. This character is black, though he was not made in Africa. The mask probably comes from somewhere in Indonesia– maybe Bali. Keep in mind that Balinese carvers try lots of different subjects and can very skillfully age the mask to make it more appealing to the market.
2 Comments
Charles Mandel
I think this one is from Lombok, an island next to Bali.
Bob Ibold
I recently got to know Charles. He is experienced with the Indonesian area of the world, so I believe we can go with Lombok.