1916.9.19
Name and identification of character
The two masks (1916.9.19. A and B), depict Vädda boys, Vädi kollo (Sin.).
Context
Two minor characters in the story Maname Kathaava/Maname Kolama. In order to crowd the vädda-group, it was customary to make this kind of masks.
Material
Wood, Vel-kaduru (Nux vomica).
Iconography
Masks of this genre are known as käta muna (käta means small in size). The wooden headdress is modelled after a leaf head-cover, commonly referred to as kola otunna (Sin.). The face is, as usually, painted in black, the ears are elongated, and the eyes bulge.
Comments on the Umlauff Catalogue
The mask is wrongly referred to as Waddi Kakunama, a misspelling of Vädi kankanama. For Vädi kankanama, see specimen 1916.9.21.
18 02 2000
Dr. M. H. Gonnatilleka