Maker unknown,Papua New Guinea
Description
Mask, 20TH Century
Bone, fiber, cassowary feathers
16 x 16 x 2 1/2 in.
The Sepik River region of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is known for its diverse masking forms and techniques. Though the function of this mask is unknown, its small size indicates it may have been designed to attach to a larger costume or was possibly handheld and danced during celebratory rituals or even displayed on special occasions in honor of the ancestors. The feathers lining the intricately woven fiber support are from the cassowary, a flightless bird native to the rainforests of PNG, and a creature featured in their origin stories.
Date
20th C.
Creator
Maker unknown,Papua New Guinea
Source
Gift of UCSB Art Affiliates
Identifier
1969.91
Collection
Citation
Maker unknown,Papua New Guinea, “Maker unknown,Papua New Guinea,” UCSB ADA Museum Omeka, accessed April 19, 2024, http://art-collections.museum.ucsb.edu/items/show/7322.