Bar mask "yena"
Papua New Guinea - Upper Sepik, Washkuk area, Nukuma
sold
EUR 1,700
Provenance
Joseph Krone, Ambunti, Papua New GuineaSize
H: 81 cm
H: 31.9 inch
Description
wood, colour pigments, base
Pompous ceremonies should ensure a rich, good yam harvest. This included the “yena-ma” festival, during which staff masks, such as this one, were placed on top of piles of yam tubers. According to Meyer, the “yena” represents a spirit “sikilowas”.