mask (ansiktsmask)

1916.9.97

Name and identification of character
A Moorish man, Marakkala Miniha (Sin.) or Tambi (Tambiyaar in the Tamil language).

Context
This character appears in two contexts: as a foreign merchant in the story known as Gon-koti Kathava (Sin.) (vide Preface), and in a witty and humorous episode called Tambi Kolama (Sin.).

Material
Wood, Vel-kaduru (Nux vomica).

Iconography
Similar to 1916.9.96. The head-gear (fez) is decorated with squares painted in yellow, red, green and white. The beard, which surrounds the cheeks and the chin, is not as imposing as in 1916.9.96. The face is lemon yellow, which does not fit into the colour scheme of this ethnic character. Piercing eyes, semi circular eyebrows, closed mouth with lips painted in pink, moustache in the shape of corkscrews. No ears, or perhaps the ears are covered by the beard.

2000 06 09
Dr. M. H. Goonatilleka