mask (dance & live theatre)

Mask of one of the members of the yaksha, or demon, army of Thotsakan, Phra Ram's adversaries in the Ramakien.

The face is painted green, the mouth downturned at the ends, with one row of teeth indicated in black paint. There are two very pronounced upward fangs, of which the left one has been damaged. Surrounding the mouth is a raised green band painted with black stripes, probably representing hair. It has a rounded nose. The eyes have small round apertures towards the inside, surrounded by a green band with black striped markings, ending in a downward curl. There are some pink wavy painted lines on various parts of the face.

Above the eyes, the eyebrows are bunched into a frown, painted in black striping, which ends in protrusions that project upwards and outwards to either side. There are cardboard or leather ears on both sides of the mask, which end in red flame-like shapes. An elaborate gilt lacquer band, decorated with pieces of mirror glass, goes all around the front of the head, curving down at either side of the face and ending in a flame shape that protrudes, and is apparently made of leather. The top of the head is decorated with large spirals painted in broken white lines. The back of the head is painted reddish with decoration in red, white, gold, and blue, with a whitish border along the bottom. Above the panel is a band of gilt lacquer decorated with a row of circular mirror glass pieces.

Collection Information

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