mask (ansiktsmask), Bihiri Sanniya

1916.9.79

Name and identification of character
A Sanni mask, Sanni muna (Sin.), depicting a disease, possibly deafness, bihiri sanniya (Sin.).

Context
A demon mask depicting a disease in Sanni Yakuma (see Preface).

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

Iconography
The mask is broad and the cheeks and the eyes are sunken. The mouth is open and shows a few teeth with gaps at irregular intervals. Possibly some teeth have been broken. The chin is conical in shape. The face is black; the paint is partly erased. No ears.

Comments on the Umlauff Catalogue
The mask is, in the Umlauff Catalogue, identified as a ¿Kutta Kolan (Kutta = klein, zwarg)¿. Kutta appears to be a misspelling of käta, meaning ¿small¿. Sanni masks are traditionally designated as käta muna (see Preface) because of their small size. The mask possibly indicates deafness, bihiri sanniya, Sin.).

2000 05 15
Dr. M. H. Goonatilleka