Articulated Balinese Hand-Carved Albesia-Wood Rama Deity Mask & Pierced Openwork Crown

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This vintage 1970s Balinese wall plaque is an exquisite example of regional folk artistry from Bali, Indonesia, hand-carved from a … Read more This vintage 1970s Balinese wall plaque is an exquisite example of regional folk artistry from Bali, Indonesia, hand-carved from a block of native tropical hardwood. Measuring 14 inches in height by approximately 11 inches in total width, with an overall depth of 4.5 inches, it depicts a divine character from epic theatrical performances—most likely Prince Rama or a refined deity (Alus) from the Ramayana saga. The smooth, polished light blonde lacquer finish highlights the meticulous chisel work, revealing narrowed, stylized eyes, an elegant, linear nose bridge, and a calm, composed expression. Towered above its facial features are a monumental, pierced openwork crown, flanked by independent and multi-tiered structural ear ornaments measuring 10 inches in length. Uniquely engineered, these side ear wings are fully articulated, secured to the main face block with traditional wire thread rigging. This is an exquisite example of regional folk artistry from Bali, IndonesiaThe smooth, polished finish highlights the detailed chisel work, showing narrowed stylized eyes, an elegant linear nose bridge, and a calm, composed expression. Towering above the facial features is a monumental, pierced openwork crown flanked by independent, multi-tiered ear ornaments. Uniquely engineered, these side ear wings are fully articulated and secured to the main face block with wire thread rigging. This traditional construction method not only prevents the delicate, high-relief wood from snapping during handling but historically allowed the outer ornaments to subtly sway and catch the light during dramatic dance movements. These spectacular woodcarvings take center stage at the annual Bali Arts Festival, the Pesta Kesenian Bali, where master carvers compete for top awards in carving precision, grain utilization, and adherence to classical sacred proportions. Indonesian masks of this caliber are permanently archived and celebrated in specialized institutions worldwide, most notably at the Setia Darma House of Mask and Puppets in Gianyar, Bali, which houses over 1,300 culturally significant regional faces. Prominent international ethnographic institutions, such as the Timothy S. Y. Lam Museum of Anthropology, feature similar Southeast Asian spiritual masks in their permanent collections, validating the historical and artistic significance of this piece. See less