130 - Crown mask, possibly depicting the giant Kumbhakarna

Crown mask, possibly depicting the giant Kumbhakarna Hardwood, original honey- and brown-colored patina, traces of natural pigments, signs of wear, small chip in the center of the headdress. Rajbanshi, northern West Bengal, India 37.1 x 18 cm Provenance: former collection of Éric Chazot, Paris. A radiant, two-tiered crown extends from the bare forehead. The protruding eyes, framed by almond-shaped eyelids, dominate a vigorously sculpted nose. The exaggeratedly open mouth, framed by thick lips, lends the face extraordinary expressiveness, as if frozen in a cry. This mask may belong to the Rajbanshi masked theater inspired by the Ramayana. The combination of the crown and the gaping mouth suggests a connection to Kumbhakarna, Ravana’s brother—a giant famous for his prolonged sleep and voracious appetite. The account of his awakening describes his diadem and his terrifying yawns, as he opens his immense mouth. Given the power of its depiction, this example could enrich the corpus of masks from this tradition. Research conducted to date has not identified any parallel that precisely combines all of its characteristics, thereby preserving its remarkable uniqueness. General bibliography: Aniruddha Maitra, “Representation of Ramayana Characters on Wooden Masks from North Bengal,” Proceedings of the Indian Art History Congress, 32nd session, edited by Paromita Das, 2026, pp. 20–28.