Painted sanni mask from Tovil exorcising dance

Made:
1771-1910 in Sri Lanka
maker:
Sinhalese people

Carved and painted wooden sanni mask, polychrome, representing brown-faced demon with twisted mouth and teeth, worn in tovil dance to exorcize particular disease, Sinhalese, Sri Lanka, 1771-1910. Probably represents Kora Sanniya, demon associated with lameness and paralysis.

Details

Category:
Asian Medicine
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A134257
Materials:
wood, kaduru or ruk-attana and display, metal, wire
Measurements:
overall: 255 mm x 147 mm x 74 mm, .5 kg
type:
mask
credit:
Loan, Wellcome Trust