Featured Wood mask

Hello again.

I'm kinda great at finding broken things, but this one was nevertheless interesting and inexpensive.

Is he Japanese? I was thinking so, but maybe one of the words written on the back is 'Bali'...?

It comfortably fits a (my) face.

Maybe that's a signature on the back inside?

Thank you!

 

Writing indicates Bali.

I Wy Muka comes up as a person's name.
Mas is a village south of Ubud, Bali

 

Ok thank you. I am an idiot. I honestly didn't even think to google the words. Duh.

 

I Wayan Muka is apparently the carver. Thanks again for the lead.

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/wayan-muka-carved-wooden-balinese-1497860074

 

Super interesting!

 

the wood is that open cell Albesia type from Bali..

 

Nice mask, made for the tourist trade.
In dance and theatre half masks are for speaking parts.
Ugly faces are usually servants, and a near toothless face stresses the comical character of a role.
Servants in theatre and dance often comment on what their masters do, or give them advice. They also ridicule their masters, and funny masks help to lighten the mood.

 

Thank you. It's easy to imagine this mask in those circumstances.

 

Pottery's you're my Portland doppelganger (i live here too). I pretend I'm you out on the town picking fine ethnic stuff-good eye.
Once my projects are done (the ones I've been avoiding for ten years),we may run into each other.

 

Sounds good @bosko69 . We all do that vicarious thing on this web site, I think.

And who knows, maybe we've already run in to one another here in Portland. If it was at some old antique show once, and I was the guy who got to that one table just before you, and grabbed the insane find--the priceless rare artifact for just $5--and you saw me walking away with it in my happy little hands... that mighta been me.

 

true-we might already know each other.