Vintage Indonesian Borneo Dayak-Style Hand-Carved Wood Wall Mask

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Description

A wonderfully sculptural vintage Indonesian hand-carved wood wall mask inspired by the traditional artistic vocabulary of the Dayak peoples of … Read more A wonderfully sculptural vintage Indonesian hand-carved wood wall mask inspired by the traditional artistic vocabulary of the Dayak peoples of Borneo, or Kalimantan in Indonesian Borneo.

Carved in richly toned dark reddish-brown wood, the mask combines a strongly dimensional central face with an elaborate symmetrical openwork surround. Oversized rounded eyes, an elongated geometric nose, broad mouth with individually delineated teeth, and a dramatically projecting pointed chin give the relatively small piece remarkable visual presence.

The pierced extensions surrounding the face incorporate curling, scroll-like forms characteristic of Dayak-inspired decorative carving. Viewed from the side, the considerable projection of the facial features becomes especially apparent, giving the mask an almost architectural quality.

Its scale, construction and hanging arrangement indicate that this example was created as decorative art rather than as a wearable ceremonial mask, most likely during the late-20th-century Indonesian decorative and traveler market of approximately the 1970s–1990s.

An excellent addition to a collected global interior, gallery wall, study, library, or grouping of ethnographic-inspired and Indonesian decorative arts.

Origin: Indonesia, Borneo/Kalimantan style
Culture/Style: Dayak-inspired
Period: Circa 1970s–1990s
Material: Hand-carved wood
Dimensions: approximately 7” H × 5” W
Weight: 7.4 oz

A hanging loop is present on the reverse, making the mask ready to hang. See less