Borneo Dayak Bidayuh Monkey Like Dance Mask

Borneo Dayak Bidayuh Monkey-Like Ritual Dance Mask
Origin: Bidayuh Tribe, West Borneo

This striking hand-carved wooden ritual mask is attributed to the Bidayuh people of West Borneo and is traditionally used in ceremonial dances, likely in ritual contexts involving spiritual storytelling or ancestral appeasement. The mask features an exaggerated, monkey-like visage with bulging round eyes framed in bold cream and black pigments, conveying an alert, primal presence.

The mouth is carved open and accentuated with prominent fangs, adding a fearsome and supernatural quality. This simian form, with its haunting expression and sharp teeth, may represent a forest spirit, an ancestral being, or a guardian figure invoked during rituals to scare away malevolent forces or entertain and instruct during festivals.

Crafted from light tropical hardwood, the mask bears visible tool marks on the interior, suggesting it was traditionally hand-hewn . Small eye slits and a mouth opening indicate it was designed to be worn during active dance or performance.

H – 27 x 16 x 11 cm / 271 g

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