Mayura Raksha mask, Sri Lanka, 20th century

Description

A traditional, richly carved ritual mask (Peacock Mask), reflecting the aesthetics of Ceylonese ethnic art and tribal art. The object is made of lightweight wood and hand-painted in polychrome.

The front surface depicts the demonic face of the Raksha demon, surrounded by a dynamic, multicoloured structure. The composition is dominated by bright, saturated paintwork in shades of yellow, red and black, with additional details in green and white.

This flame-like, organic-geometric pattern gives the object a distinctive, sculptural and symmetrical aesthetic. The wide, undulating side elements and high crown effectively highlight the central details – bulging black eyes, a broad smile revealing the teeth and a protruding red tongue.

The item has natural signs of age. A factory-made construction facilitating wall mounting is located on the back.