Yogyakarta, Central Java, Indonesia

Dance mask of Bhuta Cakil, late 19th century
wood, gold, gemstones, leather, horse hair
18.5 x 14.5 x 14.5 cm

National Museum of Indonesia, Jakarta

Bhuta Cakil is an archetypal ogre. He symbolises wilfulness and greed and appears in a range of theatrical performances. The character was said to have been introduced into Indonesian theatre in the 17th century.