Bali, Indonesia
Balinese

Albesia wood, filament
Mid 20th century
Height: 11 in, Width: 12 in, Depth: 15 in
Other – Regalia

A Balinese ‘Garuda’ (eagle) mask, hand carved from albesia wood.  This three-piece eagle mask is hand painted in the traditional style of red with black accents, the beak of a kite, roundish eyes, and gold wings.

The Balinese use the drama or Calang Arang to tell stories that have been passed down for generations. Each mask embodies a different character.  When a performer wears a mask, they believe that they become the character they are portraying, or that the mask comes to life. These masks are blessed by a Hindu priest before each performance. The performances are considered sacred and are an important part of Balinese culture.

In Hinduism, Garuda is a divine eagle-like sun bird and the king of birds. He is described to be the vehicle mount of the Hindu god Vishnu, and typically they are shown together.   Garuda decorates the back of the main shrine of all temples in Bali and is also the national symbol of Indonesia.