nice mask

Sticking its tongue out while smiling, this mask captures the daring, mischievous nature of spider monkeys. Jose Canil carves the mask of pinewood inspired by the Maya legend that tells of the second destruction of humanity. Accordingly, the so-called wood men and tzité women who survived were transformed into spider monkeys. To the ancient Maya, these monkeys are the patrons of dancers, musicians and artists. The mask's face preserves the wood's natural grain and is designed to hang by an agave rope.

Ketut Sri from Bhakti Senang Hati crafts this stunning mask depicting Barong, a mythological lion-like creature of ancient Bali. The admirable sculpture and its stand are carved by hand from crocodile wood with its unique grain. "I was born with poliomyelitis that made both my legs weak", explains artisan Ketut Sri. "Now I use a wheelchair. I joined Bhakti Senang Hati in 2002 when the foundation had just been established, and there I met my husband, who also suffer from polio. We have one daughter that has epilepsy and one son who is in kindergarten now. I create the masks myself, and my husband helps in preparing the raw material. I hope customers will like my hand-carveed mask that introduces our culture and that will also support our future."

Balinese artisan Wayan Rendah hand-carves this traditional mask that depicts a face with a serene expression that blends into a leaf design in the forehead and hair. The face is framed by traditional Balinese earrings and curved details, creating an overall striking effect of mystery and a sensuous connection to nature. The colors of each individual mask will vary slightly due to the natural hibiscus wood, making each mask a unique piece. The artisan uses traditional Balinese woodcarving techniques and takes inspiration from the form and texture of each piece of wood he selects.

This exquisitely hand-carved mask by Made Mulyani depicts a female Janger dancer. Unlike most traditional Balinese dances, the Janger dance allows both men and women to dance together. During the dance, twelve men move aggressively while twelve women sing and sway from side to side.

The beautiful mask is designed to stand alone on a tabletop, and an opening at the back lets it be hung on the wall.

Hibiscus wood pays homage to Buddha, the enlightened one. From Eka, this elegant mask is superbly detailed, with smooth serene features and tightly curled hair. Natural hibiscus wood varies greatly in its tonalities, therefore every sculpture will have an absolutely unique shading and grain.

This extraordinary mask with three faces honors Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity. Made Tresna makes an expressive depiction of Brahma, god of creation; Wisnu, god of life; and Siwa, god of destruction and reincarnation. By portraying the deities within one, Tresna honors the belief that the three in essence are one single divinity. Tresna carves this inspiring mask from hibiscus wood with delicate finesse.

Hibiscus wood exhibits colors ranging from white to light gray, dark gray or even black heartwood. This natural occurrence can rarely be replicated, making each carving exceptionally unique. Please expect slight differences in wood grain color and distribution patterns. Theme and artistic quality remain the same.

A whimsical illusion pertaining to the theater world, this handcarved mask expresses happiness and sorrow with equal ease. An avid carver by tradition, Wayan Rendah works the crocodile wood with absolute finesse to create polarized sentiments with minimal detail. Rendah's shaping of the eyes becomes the key to this illusion, certain to impress the admirers of the handcrafting traditions.