DepartmentAsia

Khon mask in the form of a monkey

NameMask

Artist Artist Not Recorded

CultureThai

DateLate 20th century

Place madeTHAILAND, Asia

MediumPapier-mâché; paint, gold leaf, glass.

Dimensions8 1/4 × 11 × 10 1/2 in. (20.955 × 27.9401 × 26.6701 cm)

Credit LineBequest from the Estates of Anne Ruggles Bromberg and Alan Robert Bromberg

Object numberA.2025.2.2

ProvenanceCollection of Anne R. Bromberg; purchased new

DescriptionA decorative mask not intended to be worn of a blue monley character with it's mouth open and a golden headdress.

Khon is a complex masked dance originating in Thai dramatic arts in the Ayutthaya period. This form of masked theater often depicts the story of Ramakien (Ramayana). Khon characters tend to fall within four categories: lords, ladies, ogres / demons, and monkeys.

These masks are an important feature of these performances. Masks associated with Khon are considered sacred, as they are used as representations of deities. Before adorning the masks, performers offer prayer and enter into a state of trance during the performance. Performances are traditionally performed as part of ritual ceremony, and for entertainment for royal courts. Today, they are also performed for public entertainment and for tourists.