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Lot 110: A Pair of Sri Lankan Polychrome Painted Wooden Naga and Gurulu Raksha Masks
This lot comprises two hand-carved wooden masks from Sri Lanka, traditionally identified as Naga Raksha and Gurulu Raksha. Both masks are constructed from a light-coloured wood and decorated with a polychrome palette of deep red, black, and yellow pigments with gold-tone highlights.
The Naga Raksha (Cobra Demon) mask features a central demonic face with bulging eyes, protruding tusks, and a large red tongue. The head is surmounted by three coiled cobras with flared hoods. The mask is flanked by two detachable side wings, each decorated with a central circular floral motif above three smaller cobra heads.
The Gurulu Raksha (Garuda Bird Demon) mask depicts a mythical bird-like creature with a hooked beak and tall, flaring crown of feathers. This mask also includes two detachable side wings featuring a matching radiating feather pattern. Both masks utilise a traditional slot-and-tab system for attaching the side components and are fitted with small metal wire loops for hanging.
The reverse of the Gurulu Raksha mask bears handwritten numerals in blue ink: the number 17 is visible twice on the left wing, once on the central body, and once on the right wing. The reverse of the Naga Raksha mask shows the same construction but has no legible handwritten markings.
The Naga Raksha (Cobra Demon) mask features a central demonic face with bulging eyes, protruding tusks, and a large red tongue. The head is surmounted by three coiled cobras with flared hoods. The mask is flanked by two detachable side wings, each decorated with a central circular floral motif above three smaller cobra heads.
The Gurulu Raksha (Garuda Bird Demon) mask depicts a mythical bird-like creature with a hooked beak and tall, flaring crown of feathers. This mask also includes two detachable side wings featuring a matching radiating feather pattern. Both masks utilise a traditional slot-and-tab system for attaching the side components and are fitted with small metal wire loops for hanging.
The reverse of the Gurulu Raksha mask bears handwritten numerals in blue ink: the number 17 is visible twice on the left wing, once on the central body, and once on the right wing. The reverse of the Naga Raksha mask shows the same construction but has no legible handwritten markings.
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