Particularly in the villages on the southern coast of the island Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, the local Sinhalese population have held (and occasionally still hold) large, nightly dance rituals to drive off evil demons and cure ailments. These ‘tovil or devil dances’ are a clear relic from pre-Buddhist times. Specifically in healing ceremonies, up to 18 different mask types perform (masks against fever, lameness, blindness, deafness etc.).
This ‘devil mask’ is a principal mask in these night dances. It is called a ‘Garra Yakka’. It is carved from lightweight, light brown wood and colourfully painted (red, white, yellow, green and black).
Three protective ‘nagas’ (king cobras) watch over the forehead of this mighty ‘devil exorcising’ Garra-Yakka mask. The eyes protrude menacingly with their black pupils. Underneath the eyes are seeing slits for the ‘devil dancer’. The wide, aggressively open mouth displays two rows of teeth and a large, white, curved ‘fang’ for each side. Attached to the left and right cheek of the mask are two typical, round projections.
They each take the form of of a large blossom, with two additional ‘nagas’ (cobras) wound around them with raised heads. The sections that are stuck into the mask (the fangs and side attachments) are additionally fastened with strings.
Today, newly carved and brightly coloured ‘devil masks’ are popular tourist souvenirs from Sri Lanka (usually in a very scaled down form, so that they fit in a suitcase). Old masks that actually ‘danced’ in ceremonies are very rare nowadays.
The present Garra-Yakka mask is such a rare, old piece, with noticeable usage patina on the front and back, as well as age-related damage as a result of protracted use: Colour scuffed, small, old pieces broken off the teeth, two cracks on the chin with some older original repairs.
First third of the 20th century; H: 28 cm, W: 44 cm. (ME)