Balinese Barong Macan Tiger Mask Guardian Topeng Demon Bali Wall Art carved wood

Barong Macan or Tiger Barong mask, hand carved from pule wood & painted brilliant red. A beautifully carved traditional mask from high in the heartland of Bali. Carved & painted by a talented family group that we have had the pleasure of working with for over 20 years now. 

Includes handles for which the mask is held in front of the face of the dancer & a wagging articulated tongue. The ears are removable and may be glue in place as you wish. 

• Size : 9" T x 8" D x 7" wide - the handles are about 4 inches long
• Ears are pegged & come detached & may be glued in place if you wish
• Included cord for hanging or equally as nice displayed on a shelf of table
• Solid wood
• Hand Carved 
• Hand Painted 

Barong is the most well known dance in Bali. It is a storytelling dance, narrating the fight between good and evil. This dance is the classic example of Balinese way of acting out mythology, resulting in myth and history being blended into one reality. The barong is performed by two dancers inside the Barong costume, one to control the head & another to control the hind end. Usually danced by young men of the village on special holy days & celebrations. 

The story goes that Rangda, the mother of Erlangga, the King of Bali in the tenth century, was condemned by Erlangga's father because she practiced black magic. After she became a widow, she summoned all the evil spirits in the jungle, the layaks and the demons, to come after Erlangga. A fight occurred, but she and her black magic troops were too strong that Erlangga had to ask for the help of Barong. Barong came with Erlangga's soldiers, and fight ensued. Rangda cast a spell that made Erlangga soldiers all want to kill themselves, pointing their poisoned keris into their own stomachs and chests. Barong cast a spell that turned their body resistant to the sharp keris. At the end, Barong won, and Rangda ran away.