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RITUAL MASKS:
THE BHUTA TRADITION
Bhuta
worship is an ancient tradition from Karnataka
rooted in the ancient belief that certain spirits and guardians
provided protection against “invaders and robbers, the
elements, including fire, storms, flooding, drought, disease
and to assure fertility of the soil, livestock and the human
population.” (Leo S Figiel,
Ritual Bronzes of Maharashtra and
Karnataka, Including the Bhuta Region
, Jack of Arts Inc., 2007,
p. 60) In its ritualistic practice,
bhuta
worship lends itself
to diverse art forms, including masks sculpted in bronze
or carved in wood. Broadly,
bhutas
are classified into three
categories, with masks of bronze or wood representing the
invoked spirit. The metal alloys with which the masks are
constructed render them resistant to the elements in the
thickest parts. Conversely, ornaments and features such as
the horn and tongue tend to be brittle and delicate.
Bhuta
masks are objects of pride and the sculpting of these masks
is an honoured and continuing craft tradition.
27
BANTA
KARNATAKA/ KERALA
CIRCA 20
TH
CENTURY
Bronze
Height : 18 in (46 cm)
Width: 18 in (45.7 cm)
The mask comes with a detachable stand with a height
of 67 in (170 cm).
Banta is a non‒speaking spirit, often portrayed as a
jester, who accompanies and serves the Jumadi.
$ 5,410 ‒ 8,110
Rs 4,00,000 ‒ 6,00,000
PROVENANCE
Saffronart, 11‒12 April 2018, lot 56
Private Collection, Bangalore
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