Dayak Bidayuh Shaman Mask Of A Woman ‘Dayung Borih ‘

Shamanic Mask of Dayung Borih (Female Ritual Specialist)
Origin: Dayak Bidayuh

This hand-carved wooden mask represents a Dayung Borih, a female ritual specialist or shaman in Bidayuh culture. The face is elongated and stylized, featuring high cheekbones, a prominent triangular nose, and expressive, wide-set eyes painted with white rims and black outlines, suggestive of heightened spiritual perception. The lips are subtly painted red, indicating the feminine identity of the figure.

Crowning the mask is an intricately carved openwork crest, adorned with swirling tendril motifs in red, black, and yellow—designs commonly associated with Dayak cosmology, symbolizing life force, ancestral presence, and protective energy. The carving marks are clearly visible on the reverse, suggesting traditional hand tools were used in its production. Two perforations near the eye area imply it was wearable, likely during ritual or ceremonial events.

Masks such as this were traditionally used in Bidayuh rituals involving healing, spirit communication, and protection. The Dayung Borih played a vital role in maintaining spiritual balance within the community, often mediating between the human and spirit worlds. This mask would have served either as part of a ceremonial performance or as a symbolic object representing the shaman’s role and presence during rites.

H – 35 x 16.5 x 10 cm

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