Dance Mask
Coastal Ramu River, Madang province, Papua New Guinea
Early 20th c
Provenance: Harry Franklin collection, Beverly Hills, CA.
A unique mask from the Coastal Ramu River region, this object exhibits distinct avian attributes; a hooked/pierced nose, and a small mouth. The mix of avian and humanistic features on this mask suggests this object’s spiritual importance. Shell inserts and the fiber attachments that decorate the eyes and, on the forehead, and around the nose make this a unique example. It also still retains its original rattan binding on its periphery which would have been used to secure it to a larger woven headdress. Masks such as this were worn by initiated men during ritual performances. On the backside of the mask there are very old museum style inventory numbers painted in white.
Dance Mask
Coastal Ramu River, Madang province,
Papua New Guinea
Early 20th c
Provenance:
Harry Franklin collection, Beverly Hills, CA.
A unique mask from the Coastal Ramu River region, this object exhibits distinct avian attributes; a hooked/pierced nose, and a small mouth. The mix of avian and humanistic features on this mask suggests this object’s spiritual importance. Shell inserts and the fiber attachments that decorate the eyes and, on the forehead, and around the nose make this a unique example. It also still retains its original rattan binding on its periphery which would have been used to secure it to a larger woven headdress. Masks such as this were worn by initiated men during ritual performances. On the backside of the mask there are very old museum style inventory numbers painted in white.