COLLECTION OF INDONESIAN TIMOR SKULL MASKS, 20th century, carved into part or full small mammal skulls, the tops or sections of the skull carved with stylised eyes and mouths, together with one un-carved monkey skull, the largest 13cm long (11)

The Timorese peoples of Indonesia traditionally and ritually kill animals for ceremony such as Weddings and Funerals and as a supplementary food source. True to making the best use of the materials at hand Timor has a long tradition of carving bone and horn to imbibe them with the Atoni's totemic guardian spirits. Skulls are inscribed and carved for various purposes, generally it is to do with the crop success and the general wealth of the owner. There are two main bone carving villages high in the mountains of central West Timor who provide the needs of the entire western half of the island.