Borneo Hudoq Mask

Dayak people, Apo Kayan region, Central Borneo, Oceania

15 inches, painted wood with a wicker cap

Hudoq means hornbill. These wild-looking masks are worn during agricultural ceremonies and to welcome important guests. Donning the mask, the Hudoq dancer scares away evil spirits from the longhouse. By clowning around, the dancer provokes tears of laughter which are believed to help water the newly planted rice.
The mask is a unique morphing of many elements of Dayak mythology, including the hornbill (celestial messenger of the upper world), the dragon (symbol of the lower world), and an ancestor-spirit form. The horn-like projects coming from the top of the ears are stylized bird heads. When worn with the wicker cap and long hornbill feathers, this is a very impressive character. The feathers are missing because hornbills are an endangered species.

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