196 - Carved and polychrome Dayak mask, Indonesia, 20th century

Carved and polychrome Dayak mask, Indonesia, 20th century Slightly elongated in shape, it features a stylized face with highly geometric features, carved entirely from a light wood and accented with red, green, black, and white pigments. The forehead, largely painted black, is dominated by a vertical green line running down the center to the nose; the wide-open eyes are formed by large circular openings and framed by green-painted eyelids. The nose is long and prominent, framed on either side by the red areas of the face. The mouth, outlined in white, is wide open, revealing a row of neatly arranged teeth, giving the figure an expression that is both striking and somewhat grimacing. The use of color, the stylization of the features, and the overall design are reminiscent of ritual and ethnographic artworks from the Dayak region of Borneo. Height: 20.5 cm In good overall condition, with some signs of wear.