GENERAL DESCRIPTION
This mask represents a boar-headed spirit called Bhuta. Boars are associated with the great Hindu god Vishnu, but Bhuta reflects an ancient nature spirit and was part of rural ritual dances taking place out of doors. In South India these ceremonial dances have a long tradition behind them, in which the actor/dancers disguise themselves as animal spirits. The closeness of people and nature is an important part of the Hindu religion, and all great Hindu gods have animals associated with them. Through the ceremonial dances, Hindus communicate with the heavenly world. Masks like this one embody powerful animal spirits of nature like boars, tigers, and water buffalo.
Adapted from
- Anne Bromberg Label text, 2003.
- Anne Bromberg, Label text, All the World's a Stage: Celebrating Performance in the Visual Arts, 2009.
NOTES
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Geography
Karnātaka (state): TGN: 1001882
Process/materials
bronze: AAT: 300010957
Historical periods
eighteenth century: AAT: 300404512
nineteenth century (dates CE): AAT: 300404513
Individuals
Subject terms
boars (animals/sus scrofa species): AAT: 300250112
dance (discipline): AAT: 300054144
masks (costume): AAT: 300138758
nature: AAT: 300179372
ritual (events): AAT: 300065284
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
2000: Dallas Museum of Art, gift of David T. Owsley via the Alvin and Lucy Owsley Foundation, purchased at auction, "Indian and Southeast Asian Art," Sotheby's, New York, March 23, 2000, lot 174, as "A southwest Indian bronze Boar-Bhuta mask, Malabar" [1]
The main source for this provenance is the object summary dated March 12, 2008, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collection Records object file.
[1] For details on the auction, see the invoice from Sotheby's to the Dallas Museum of Art, dated March 23, 2000, copy in object file.
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General Description
This mask represents a boar-headed spirit called Bhuta. Boars are associated with the great Hindu god Vishnu, but Bhuta reflects an ancient nature spirit and was part of rural ritual dances taking place out of doors. In South India these ceremonial dances have a long tradition behind them, in which the actor/dancers disguise themselves as animal spirits. The closeness of people and nature is an important part of the Hindu religion, and all great Hindu gods have animals associated with them. Through the ceremonial dances, Hindus communicate with the heavenly world. Masks like this one embody powerful animal spirits of nature like boars, tigers, and water buffalo.
Adapted from
- Anne Bromberg Label text, 2003.
- Anne Bromberg, Label text, All the World's a Stage: Celebrating Performance in the Visual Arts, 2009.
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Geography
Karnātaka (state): TGN: 1001882
Process/materials
bronze: AAT: 300010957
Historical periods
eighteenth century: AAT: 300404512
nineteenth century (dates CE): AAT: 300404513
Individuals
Subject terms
boars (animals/sus scrofa species): AAT: 300250112
dance (discipline): AAT: 300054144
masks (costume): AAT: 300138758
nature: AAT: 300179372
ritual (events): AAT: 300065284
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
2000: Dallas Museum of Art, gift of David T. Owsley via the Alvin and Lucy Owsley Foundation, purchased at auction, "Indian and Southeast Asian Art," Sotheby's, New York, March 23, 2000, lot 174, as "A southwest Indian bronze Boar-Bhuta mask, Malabar" [1]
The main source for this provenance is the object summary dated March 12, 2008, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collection Records object file.
[1] For details on the auction, see the invoice from Sotheby's to the Dallas Museum of Art, dated March 23, 2000, copy in object file.
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