Headcrest "baba" ·  Papua New Guinea - Maprik · ID: 3034869

Description

lygodium wickerwork, polychrome paint, min. dam., small missing parts, slight traces of abrasion, metal socle;

Such masks depict the “spirit of kutagwa” (a strong female spirit of the forrest). Masquerades are performed in secret during the so-called “baga celebrations”.

The object Headcrest “baba” with the object ID 3034869 was last part of the auction 73rd tribal art auction at May 25, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 34.

Here you will find more objects and interesting facts about Oceanian art.

Comparing literature

Aumann, Georg, Kunst und Kunsthandwerk aus Neu Guinea, Coburg 1986, p. 73