Theatrical mask of a high-ranking demon

This mask probably represents a highranking demon in the forces of the demon king Ravana, the adversary of the legendary hero Rama. Episodes from the epic of Rama were a primary subject of dance-dramas at the Burmese royal court and continue to be performed today. The masks, though carefully made and elaborately ornamented, were of light materials such as papier-mâché and would not have been expected to last many years. The earliest surviving masks are thought to date from the 1870s. Masks in traditional styles are still crafted today by skilled artisans.