Javanese | Carved Wooden Cakil Mask | Late 19th Century

$1,200.00
$1,200.00
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A late 19th-century Javanese carved wooden Cakil mask with sharp teeth, curved nose, crown-like decoration, and traces of red, gold, and black polychrome paint, used in Wayang Kulit performances to depict a demon antagonist.
Video showcasing a late 19th-century Javanese carved wooden Cakil mask with original pigments and ornate detailing.
Late 19th-century Javanese carved wooden Cakil mask with polychrome paint displayed on a black stand.
Angled view of a late 19th-century Javanese carved wooden Cakil mask with polychrome paint on a black display stand.
Traditional Indonesian dance mask (Cakil), late 19th century, photographed in angled profile.
Hand-carved Javanese Cakil mask with aged painted details, displayed at an angle on a black stand.
19th-century Indonesian Cakil theatrical mask shown from an angled perspective on a museum-style stand.
Back view of a late 19th-century Javanese carved wooden Cakil mask showing interior surface and hanging cord on a black display stand.
Back view of stamp or carving on a late 19th-century Javanese carved wooden Cakil mask showing interior surface and hanging cord on a black display stand.
Video presenting a late 19th-century Javanese Cakil mask, a carved wooden demon figure used in traditional Wayang Topeng dance theatre, featuring original polychrome pigments and expressive mythological detailing.
  • A late 19th-century Javanese carved wooden Cakil mask with sharp teeth, curved nose, crown-like decoration, and traces of red, gold, and black polychrome paint, used in Wayang Kulit performances to depict a demon antagonist.
  • Video showcasing a late 19th-century Javanese carved wooden Cakil mask with original pigments and ornate detailing.
  • Late 19th-century Javanese carved wooden Cakil mask with polychrome paint displayed on a black stand.
  • Angled view of a late 19th-century Javanese carved wooden Cakil mask with polychrome paint on a black display stand.
  • Traditional Indonesian dance mask (Cakil), late 19th century, photographed in angled profile.
  • Hand-carved Javanese Cakil mask with aged painted details, displayed at an angle on a black stand.
  • 19th-century Indonesian Cakil theatrical mask shown from an angled perspective on a museum-style stand.
  • Back view of a late 19th-century Javanese carved wooden Cakil mask showing interior surface and hanging cord on a black display stand.
  • Back view of stamp or carving on a late 19th-century Javanese carved wooden Cakil mask showing interior surface and hanging cord on a black display stand.
  • Video presenting a late 19th-century Javanese Cakil mask, a carved wooden demon figure used in traditional Wayang Topeng dance theatre, featuring original polychrome pigments and expressive mythological detailing.
A late 19th-century Javanese carved wooden Cakil mask with sharp teeth, curved nose, crown-like decoration, and traces of red, gold, and black polychrome paint, used in Wayang Kulit performances to depict a demon antagonist.
Video showcasing a late 19th-century Javanese carved wooden Cakil mask with original pigments and ornate detailing.
Late 19th-century Javanese carved wooden Cakil mask with polychrome paint displayed on a black stand.
Angled view of a late 19th-century Javanese carved wooden Cakil mask with polychrome paint on a black display stand.
Traditional Indonesian dance mask (Cakil), late 19th century, photographed in angled profile.
Hand-carved Javanese Cakil mask with aged painted details, displayed at an angle on a black stand.
19th-century Indonesian Cakil theatrical mask shown from an angled perspective on a museum-style stand.
Back view of a late 19th-century Javanese carved wooden Cakil mask showing interior surface and hanging cord on a black display stand.
Back view of stamp or carving on a late 19th-century Javanese carved wooden Cakil mask showing interior surface and hanging cord on a black display stand.
Video presenting a late 19th-century Javanese Cakil mask, a carved wooden demon figure used in traditional Wayang Topeng dance theatre, featuring original polychrome pigments and expressive mythological detailing.
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Javanese | Carved Wooden Cakil Mask | Late 19th Century

Description
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Historical Context & Origin

Region: Java, Indonesia
Material: Hand-carved wood with polychrome paint
Period: Late 19th Century CE

Description

This remarkable Javanese carved wooden Cakil mask is a striking ceremonial and theatrical artifact used in Wayang Kulit (shadow puppet theater). The character of Cakil, a well-known demon in Javanese tradition, is portrayed with exaggerated features that embody greed and menace. This mask captures his role as an adversary in the eternal battle between good and evil, central to Javanese cultural storytelling.

Features

- Sharp teeth, curved nose, and dramatic expressions symbolizing demonic ferocity

- Crown-like decoration enhancing its theatrical presence

- Hand-carved wood with polychrome decoration in crab red, gold, and black

- Weathered patina reflecting both use and age, attesting to its authenticity

Cultural Significance

In Javanese Wayang Kulit performances, Cakil is a central antagonist character representing chaos, greed, and demonic energy. Masks like this were used in dance-drama and ceremonial contexts, serving as vivid visual embodiments of mythological battles. Beyond performance, such masks symbolized the spiritual and moral lessons embedded in traditional storytelling, reinforcing the cultural values of balance and harmony.

Condition

The mask is well-preserved with vibrant traces of its original pigments. Signs of wear and patina consistent with age further authenticate its use in ceremonial or theatrical contexts.

Dimensions (Approximate)

Height: 10 in
Width: 8.5 in
Depth: 7.5 in

Age (Approximate)

125–150 years old

Learn More

Explore our Collection of Ethnographic Masks & Cultural Artifacts

See a comparable example at the Second Face Museum of Cultural Masks

Read more about Indonesian ceremonial masks and their cultural significance

Description

Historical Context & Origin

Region: Java, Indonesia
Material: Hand-carved wood with polychrome paint
Period: Late 19th Century CE

Description

This remarkable Javanese carved wooden Cakil mask is a striking ceremonial and theatrical artifact used in Wayang Kulit (shadow puppet theater). The character of Cakil, a well-known demon in Javanese tradition, is portrayed with exaggerated features that embody greed and menace. This mask captures his role as an adversary in the eternal battle between good and evil, central to Javanese cultural storytelling.

Features

- Sharp teeth, curved nose, and dramatic expressions symbolizing demonic ferocity

- Crown-like decoration enhancing its theatrical presence

- Hand-carved wood with polychrome decoration in crab red, gold, and black

- Weathered patina reflecting both use and age, attesting to its authenticity

Cultural Significance

In Javanese Wayang Kulit performances, Cakil is a central antagonist character representing chaos, greed, and demonic energy. Masks like this were used in dance-drama and ceremonial contexts, serving as vivid visual embodiments of mythological battles. Beyond performance, such masks symbolized the spiritual and moral lessons embedded in traditional storytelling, reinforcing the cultural values of balance and harmony.

Condition

The mask is well-preserved with vibrant traces of its original pigments. Signs of wear and patina consistent with age further authenticate its use in ceremonial or theatrical contexts.

Dimensions (Approximate)

Height: 10 in
Width: 8.5 in
Depth: 7.5 in

Age (Approximate)

125–150 years old

Learn More

Explore our Collection of Ethnographic Masks & Cultural Artifacts

See a comparable example at the Second Face Museum of Cultural Masks

Read more about Indonesian ceremonial masks and their cultural significance

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