Unusual Dayak Bidayuh Healing Mask With Slanted Nose

Unusual Dayak Bidayuh Healing Mask

This striking and unusual healing mask originates from the Dayak Bidayuh people of Borneo, a community renowned for their intricate and symbolically rich ritual arts. Hand-carved from a single piece of lightwood, the mask features a boldly stylized face characterized by exaggerated features and expressive coloration.

The mask’s most dominant attribute is its elongated, sharply curved nose, which projects outward in a dramatic fashion. This prominent nasal form may symbolize heightened spiritual sensitivity or act as a channel for ancestral or healing energies. The wide, circular eyes are painted in contrasting tones of white and black, lending the mask a heightened sense of awareness or alertness—essential qualities in shamanic or healing rites.

Painted in earthy red and black tones, the face is adorned with jagged, flame-like black markings across the cheeks and mouth area. These likely represent spiritual or protective motifs, intended to ward off malevolent forces or disease during healing rituals. The mouth is a deeply inset oval cavity, painted black with a yellow inner rim, perhaps symbolizing breath, spirit, or voice, and could serve as a conduit for chants or healing incantations.

The back of the mask reveals clear hand-tool markings and wear, indicating its age and authenticity. The rough, unpolished interior and carving marks suggest it was used rather than simply decorative, supporting its ceremonial function.

Such masks were likely used by a healer or shaman (known locally as a dukun or balian) during spiritual healing ceremonies, possibly involving chants, rituals, and the invocation of ancestral spirits. The abstract features and bold design underscore the mask’s role in connecting the physical and spirit worlds, a cornerstone of Bidayuh healing traditions.

Material: lightwood, natural pigments
Origin: Bidayuh tribe, Borneo
Function: Healing or shamanic rituals

H – 26 x 13 x 6.5 c, / 121 g

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