Two yams masks "bapa mene" ·  Papua New Guinea, Abelam · ID: 3045339

Description

lygodium, colour pigments, palm leaf sheath (sago palm),
After the harvest of the up to three meters long “big yams”, the tubers, which are perceived as ghostly beings, are decorated with “bapa mene” masks and the feathers of the white cockatoo. Leaning against wooden frames, they will be publicly displayed side by side for a few days.

The object Two yams masks “bapa mene” with the object ID 3045339 was last part of the auction 91 Tribal Art Auction at March 9, 2019 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 45 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,500.

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

Hamson, Michael, Art of the Abelam, Palos Verdes, 2015, ill. 67