mask (ansiktsmask), Vädi raja, Vädda king

1916.9.165

Name and identification of character
The Vädda king, Vädi raja (Sin.).

Context
One of the main characters in the story of Maname, Maname Kathava (Sin.), in Kolam.

Material
Wood, vel-kaduru (Sin.) (Nux vomica).

Iconography
The basic facial pigmentation of the Vädda group (forest-dwelling hunters), as evidenced from specimens 1916.9.163-172, is dominantly black or dark green. The king and the overseer wear head-dresses painted in brighter colours. The face of the Vädda king represented by this mask is shaped like that of Prince Dhanurdhara in the Udupila Collection (Goonatilleka, 1978:59). But in order to distinguish it from the high-grade kings, the face has been painted in green. It is a stylised presentation of the Vädda king. The head-dress is in the form of a half-crown, baga otunna (Sin.), and appears to have been given a new coating of bright paint, predominantly yellow, which disturbs the original colour scheme. It comprises three wooden spires in triangular form. These are connected to each other by means of conical shaped wooden planks. Each plank is gaily decorated with a flower design; white petals with inserted red lines, suggestive of pistils. The spires are painted in tetrarhombus designs and curved black lines. The forehead band is decorated with geometric designs in red, black and white.

The face is broad and the ears are elongated. Earrings are attached. A curved nose and a closed mouth with lips painted in red.

05 08 2000
Dr. M. H. Goonatilleka