A BRONZE BHUTA CULT MASK OF NANDI, SOUTH INDIA, LATE 18TH TO EARLY 19TH CENTURY
Heavily cast, the ritual mask in the form of a bull’s head with two long curved horns, each decorated with raised rings and incised with lotus petals at their bases. The face of the bull with a beaded halter, two large almond-shaped eyes with round pupils and neatly incised lashes, pierced nostrils, and two separately cast funnel-shaped ears, the mouth open revealing large incised teeth. The back with a circular attachment loop.


Provenance:
English trade.

Condition:
Very good condition with expected old wear and casting flaws. Light scratches, minor nicks, and small dents.

Weight: 4,742 g
Dimensions: Length 45.4 cm


This cult mask has a totemistic connection to a culture of farming
where plows are pulled by bulls and where cow milk is one of the main sources of proteins. The link with Hinduism is also easily established through Nandi, the mount of Shiva. Nandi, “the one who brings happiness” in Sanskrit, incarnates the interior strength brought by the control of violence. Its four legs represent truth, purity, compassion, and generosity. The act of touching its tail is meant to relieve people from any kind of impurity.


The bhuta (spirit) is invoked in a highly stylized version
of the ritual dance (bhuta kola) of the spirit impersonator during a theatrical production in which a world of supernatural beings is created by dancers adorned in colorful costumes including masks, such as the present lot, depicting various divine beings.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Galerie Zacke, Vienna, 25 April 2020, lot 448
Price: EUR 7,584 or approx.
EUR 9,200
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Bhuta cult mask of a bull, late 18th - early 19th century
Expert remark: Compare the related form. Note the size (51 cm).