This mask was made by an average person to save money, or make a little extra. Despite its crudeness, I like it a lot. I’m also happy to see, for the first time, a mask from Majuli, Assam. Even though masquerade is quite important in the world’s second largest country, I don’t get to see the masks or costumes very often. Nor do I know of any good book about them. If you know of such a book, please share the title and author’s name with us. Indian masks used by professional dancers can be fabulous. From Neroutes.com, Aug 19, 2016.

Rrakasa Mask Sri Lanka Wood, pigment Early 20th Century 7 inches A stunning mask by any measure, this demon portrayal was used to heal through exorcism. Thomas Murray www.tmurrayarts.com I think it is important for collectors to know that the unique masks we think of as Sri Lankan comes from the Sinhalese people who occupy the southern and central parts of the island. A majority of Sinhalese people adhere to Theravada Buddhism rather than Hinduism.The origins of the Sri Lankan Civil War lie in the continuous political rancor between the majority Sinhalese and the minority Tamils who live in the north. The roots of the modern conflict go back to…

Q:  Carved out of one piece, this mask was bought at a flea fair for £20.  Steve, 1217 A:  About two weeks ago I posted a shaman’s mask from Nepal. It has the same custom’s seal on its back that the previous one had. The Middle Highlands area of Nepal has several ethnic groups including the Rai, Gurung, Magar and Tharu. These people live in remote rural areas and are quite poor. Often their masks are crudely carved and have a dark patina.This mask is an example of that. Unfortunately, I can’t be sure of its authenticity. Save Save

A few days ago I posted a very nice Buddhist demon mask from Nepal. Here is one from a tribal group that resides in the Middle Hills region of rural Nepal and is much different. It would be used for shamanistic purposes and is carved in a primitive way. Paint is rarely used, and because it is stored hanging from the ceiling of a smoke-filled hut, has turned a greasy, dark brown. Even though it is very crude, masks like this have a strong appeal. There are several books on masks from the Middle Hills. Part of the charm of this mask is the way it has aged. Please enlarge…

Q:  What are you thoughts? Remind us what the red-wax seal means? It cleared Tibetan customs, right? But beyond that, do we know when they started and stopped using this type of seal? Was this seal essentially put onto everything? (i.e. a real antique and a tourist piece would both be given one of these?)  Nate, 1209 A:  Let me start with the red wax seal. The Nepalese customs department began taxing folk art items being sold to tourists and exporters in the middle 20th century. Masks got a seal on the rear. Then, around the beginning of the 21st, they stopped wasting time and money on this practice. I…

  Q:  Went to a church Thrift Shop last week and they were having a half off sale on the “artwork”. Bought three Indonesian Masks for $20.00! The two smaller ones have real animal tusks (seven each mask)held to the masks with old finishing type nails, the ears attached the same way. Guessing they are definitely tourist-type masks. The largest mask is 10″ wide by 14 1/2″ high and is a one piece carving. Five cobras make up the top of the headdress and the ears are human heads. On the back appear to be missing attachments for the wearer for a head strap, also one hole through the top.…

Q:  Here is a mask that I think is from Nepal. Can you tell me more about it?  Hans, 1203 A:  Masks made of hairy animal skin do show up occasionally in Nepal, Tibet, and even parts of Europe. I want to put this one on the blog because it projects so much character and, dare I say it, Satanic Power! Hopefully one of our viewers will add a comment.

Q:  I bought this mask in San Francisco, California in the late 1990s for somewhere around $100 or so..I don’t remember exactly. It seemed old at the time, and I remember the merchant saying something about it being some kind of “ceremonial” mask but I forgot all that he said. Size is about person-size. Material seems to be some kind of plant material that was pressed or glued together, but I don’t know exactly. It isn’t solid wood but definitely a natural plant-based material of some sort.  Bruce, 1194 A:  “India is the world’s largest democracy and the second most populous nation in the world. It is a land that…

Q:  I took photos of these (quickly because it wasn’t allowed!) masks in a tiny museum in Bhaktapur, Nepal.  Amy, 1192 A:  The character is Indrayani, one of eight dancers in a performance of Bhairabs, the oldest and most famous drama in the Kathmandu Valley. Bhaktapur is where it started. In the nearby big city of Kathmandu you can buy lots of papier mache masks, but they won’t look anything like this one. I would guess it was made about 75 years ago. Please enlarge this hi-res scan so you can see the details. I don’t think this high quality work is done anymore. Amy– thanks for taking the risk!…

Sharon Lowen, a scholar and performer of Indian traditional dances, sent me this photo of Sri Balaram, a character from one of the Chhau dances in Purulia, and the brother of Krishna. It is an unused performance mask, 13″ x 10 1/2″ x 7″, collected in 1974 from a mask-maker at the Paus Mela Fair in Santineketan, Bengal. Its eyes are not opened yet because dancers do this themselves. Sharon will be in the United States for the first time in 5 years and have two days to disperse (or bring back to India) folk art collected in the 70’s and 80’s. If you have any friends in LA who…