Spirit mask ·  Caroline Islands, Mortlock Island, Ponape · ID: 3034453

Description

light-weighted wood (probably breadfruit-tree), white and black pigment, of narrow elongated form with stylized facial features and disc-shaped projecting beard, “Devil mask - Ponape” written in pencil on the inside of the mask, slightly dam., paint rubbed off;
such masks served for manipulating the weather, they should help to ward off typhoons and make the bread fruits ripen.

The object Spirit mask with the object ID 3034453 was part of the auction 72nd tribal art auction on March 9, 2013. The object with the lot number 68 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,200 with an asking price of EUR 600.

You can find more Masks and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on Oceanian art.

Comparing literature

Heermann, Ingrid, Südseeoasen, Stuttgart 2009, p. 129