Mwai

Language: unknown
Language: unknown
May mask

This mask was part of a whole mask costume. It was tied to a frame decked out with leaves, completely hiding the person wearing the mask. The mask embodied the presence of the non-human realm at celebratory dances. The individual wearing the mask, in addition to the visual impression, created a piercing sound through a bamboo voice modifier concealed beneath the costume to reproduce the spirit's voice.

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Cataloguing data

Cultural attribution
Iatmul
Object type
Maske
Dimensions
Width: 115.0 mm
Height: 450.0 mm
Material/Technique
Wood
Current location
Museum Natur und Mensch
Inventory number
II/2038

Provenance and sources

when
10.03.1954
where
Papua New Guinea (location/origin)
Sepik (location/origin)
Oceania (location/origin)
Melanesia (location/origin)
who
Privatbesitz - Collectors

Information about the record

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