Barong face

About This Item

This mask was hand carved from wood, and features a tongue and flowers made of leather. This mask represents Barong, a panther-like creature and character in Balines mythology. He is the king of the spirits, leader of the hosts of good, and enemy of Rangda, the demon queen and mother of all spirit guardians in the mythological traditions of Bali. The battle between Barong and Rangda is featured in the Barong dance to represent the eternal battle between good and evil.  

This Barong face is likely part of a larger costume, elaborately painted, made from meticulously hand-carved wood, and often featuring fangs of bone and feathered hinged wings.

Date
Mid-20th Century
Geography
Bali, Indonesia, Southeast Asia
Medium
wood
leather
Height
8 in
Width
5.5 in
Depth
3 in
Copyright
Copyright status unknown. Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing, and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
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