Important Notice

Wood

20th century
Kerala

Height: 30.5 in (76.3 cm)
Width: 25.5 in (63.8 cm)
Depth: 4 in (10 cm)

Theyyam is a socio-religious performance and form of ritual worship practiced for several centuries in Northern Kerala to propitiate the gods, ancestral spirits and heroes. Theyyam is said to have more than 400 forms, each with a unique name and story to tell. Performers wear oversized headgear, masks, breast plates, skirts and arm ornaments, and spend hours preparing themselves for the ritual. Worn by the 'theyya' or oracle, this headgear comprises several elaborately carved wooden sections, loosely joined by cord to give an illusion of movement when worn. The piece bears the figures of Goddess Laxmi flanked by two elephants and two attendants at its apex, along with several inscriptions in the Tullu language.


Wood

20th century
Kerala

Height: 30.5 in (76.3 cm)
Width: 25.5 in (63.8 cm)
Depth: 4 in (10 cm)

Theyyam is a socio-religious performance and form of ritual worship practiced for several centuries in Northern Kerala to propitiate the gods, ancestral spirits and heroes. Theyyam is said to have more than 400 forms, each with a unique name and story to tell. Performers wear oversized headgear, masks, breast plates, skirts and arm ornaments, and spend hours preparing themselves for the ritual. Worn by the 'theyya' or oracle, this headgear comprises several elaborately carved wooden sections, loosely joined by cord to give an illusion of movement when worn. The piece bears the figures of Goddess Laxmi flanked by two elephants and two attendants at its apex, along with several inscriptions in the Tullu language.