Museum-quality Kenyah Dayak hudoq mask from Borneo, Indonesia, Ex. Marc Pinto

  

This is an exceptional old hudoq mask from the Kenyah Dayak people of East Kalimantam, Borneo, Indonesia. It was part of Marc Pinto's private collection. According to Pinto, this is one of the biggest and best Bahau Busang masks I have obtained. I've done my best to show how special this mask is - it is truly museum quality.

It measures 18 1/4" high x 19 1/2" wide x 11 1/2 deep. It is larger and more spectacular when seen in person. Where the traditional Dayak motifs are usually painted on the sides of most hudoq masks, this mask has been expertly carved in several areas with the motifs in relief.

Note, for example, the finely detailed flower carving on the mask's upper forehead and the intertwined vine-like carvings on the chin and forehead sides. This is just part of what makes this mask so exceptional. A photograph of a similar mask is included in the classic book Masks of Kalimantan by Michael Heppell. According to Heppell, it is a mask of Naling Ledaang, a god from Apau Lagaan who brings the rice spirits back to earth so they can be reunited with the growing rice.

The mask is made of native wood with expertly applied red and black trade paint. The eyes feature old round mirrors and the ears are attached with rattan. The bite stick is made of what appears to be bamboo, and it is worn down where it was gripped by teeth to help hold the mask in place during performances. The fangs were broken off long ago, as is typical with authentic old hudoq masks.

There is a very small old chip in the wood at the top lip where it meets the underside of the tip of the nose; it is not noticeable. There are many crudely painted hudoq masks and outright fakes for sale these days. This mask is the real thing - authentic, beautifully carved, expertly painted, with a documented provenance. You can find cheaper masks, but not better!

The item "Museum-quality Kenyah Dayak hudoq mask from Borneo, Indonesia, Ex. Marc Pinto" is in sale since Wednesday, October 16, 2019.

This item is in the category "Antiques\Ethnographic\Pacific Islands & Oceania". The seller is "sdpilgrimsoul2012" and is located in Carlsbad, California. This item can be shipped to North, South, or Latin America, all countries in Europe, all countries in continental Asia, Australia.

• Material: Wood
• Original/Reproduction: Original
• Featured Refinements: Dayak