mask (ansiktsmask)

1916.9.180

Name and identification of character
An ordinary villager, Gamayek (Sin.).

Context
A character appearing in the story designated Gama Kathava (Sin.) (Vide preface) in Kolam.

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

Iconography
The mask is of the smaller variety in Kolam. The face is painted dark brown. Although the mask is devoid of elaborate iconographical details and bright colours, it captures the pathetic plight of a simple villager. In the story called Gon-koti Kathava (Sin.) (the story of a foreign peddler, his bull and tiger, and startled villagers) the villagers are startled by the presence of a tiger. In this mask the expression of alarm is cleverly depicted in the face of the villager by employing a few pigments, a few teeth (or stumps of teeth) painted in grey and innocent eyes looking up as if calling for help.

Comments on the Umlauff Catalogue
The mask is identified as ¿Verdi Kolan (Wilder)¿ in the catalogue. The expression ¿Verdi¿ is phonetically incorrect. The phonetically correct rendering should be ¿Vädda¿. Even so, the identification is wrong. The expression displayed on the mask is contrary to the normal fearful look of a Vädda.

2000 05 17
Dr. M. H. Goonatilleka