Masks were used by the Batak people in various ceremonies, most notably in funerals where they were used to frighten and confuse the spirits of the deceased so that it would not find its way back to the village and create mischief. Large helmet like masks such as this one would have originally had a cotton and fibre headdress sticking out from the large hole at the top of the mask, emulating the hair and headdress of shaman's staffs and other sculptural works. The size of the mask would have made the dancer appear similar sculptural figures which usually have disproportionately large heads.