Dayak Iban Ceremonial Dance Mask

Dayak Iban Ceremonial Dance Mask

Dimensions: H – 31 x 25 x 15 cm
Weight: 769 g
Origin: Iban people, Sarawak, Borneo
Material: Carved wood with pigment

This expressive Dayak Iban Ceremonial Dance Mask is hand-carved from a single block of lightweight hardwood and vividly painted in traditional pigments of red, cream, and black. The mask presents a striking anthropomorphic spirit face, characterized by its exaggerated circular eyes, sharply defined nose ridge, and an open mouth revealing carved teeth and prominent projecting fangs, evoking the presence of a powerful supernatural being.

The bold, rounded eye forms and contrasting concentric paintwork are typical of Iban ritual aesthetics, designed to create an intense, animated gaze when worn during ceremonial performances. The pronounced fangs and fierce expression likely represent a protective spirit or mythological entity, embodying strength and serving to ward off malevolent forces. The sculptural ears and angular brow further enhance the mask’s dynamic and imposing character.

Masks of this type were traditionally worn during ngajat dance performances, ritual festivals, and communal ceremonies, where they played an important role in storytelling, spiritual invocation, and the reinforcement of cultural identity. The carving shows confident hand-tool work, with visible tool marks and a naturally aged patina that attest to its authenticity and use.

The interior is hollowed for wear, and the surface displays age-related cracking and wear consistent with a ceremonial object of some age, adding to its ethnographic integrity and visual appeal.