Old half-mask from Bali

Q:  I recently purchased this mask at a non-internet estate auction as part of an auction lot. Size is 6 1/4″ h x 5 1/2″ w. Light elegant wood with a true antique feel (wavy patina). The red paint might be storage splatters. I collect well-crafted, antique ethnographic items.  Jerry, 707

A:  Your excellent hi-res photos suggest this is a very old Balinese mask used for the Topeng dance drama that has been performed there for hundreds of years. An old patina can be very attractive and highly desirable to collectors. But please remember that I can’t be sure of its authenticity simply by looking at scans on a computer screen.  A