mask (ansiktsmask)

1916.9.34

Name and identification of character
Local village headman, aracci (Sin.).

Context
A proud and haughty official who makes his entry in stage one of the Kolam performance (vide Preface).

Material
Wood, Vel-kaduru (Nux vomica).

Iconography
The headgear is in the shape of a cap. The sides of the cap represent the comb, nämi panava (Sin.), worn by higher officials of this genre. The comb, usually worn on official visits, represents the authority the character wields in the village.

Comments on the Umlauff Catalogue
A few traits, such as the spot on the forehead, suggest of a moneylender of Indian origin (cf. Lucas, 1938:58). The identification of the character as a Hätti (the correct transliteration is hetti) (Sin.) in the Umlauff Catalogue is incorrect. The translation of hätti as soldier is also incorrect; the term hetti refers to a moneylender.

2000 03 03
Dr. Goonatilleka