Barong

 measurements: 30,5x29x17 cm
weight: 2800 gr
signed by I Wj. Meja Lasia (1925-2001), Guwang, Bali
made in the 1980s

 For being a souvenir this Barong mask it is quite big, heavy and very well made.
I love curly hair on woodcarvings and this mask has plenty of it, there are many curls even below Barong's chin where you wouldn't expect that much detail. The artist Lasia used the wood's own two colors to highlight parts of Barong's face, hands and feathers on the top.  Following the wood given lines that nice is a carving technique not seen that often on a tourist article.
The previous owner bought this mask in Ubud as a souvenir in the 1980s. There are some very thin drying cracks and breaking marks too, including rests of glue. That's sad because many people will use wrong type of glue and use it not the right way. When I got the mask, a small tip of one of the feathers was broken. I carefully fixed it with PVA glue and you won't see the repair at all.