Yam mask "silgu" · Papua New Guinea - Maprik · ID: 3032577
not available anymore
Size
H: 77 cm
H: 30.3 inch
Description
lygodium netting, polychrome paint, depicting a stylized mask face, crowned by a diadem-like head ornament, min. dam., minor missing parts, slight traces of abrasion;
masks of that kind were used when the “big yam” was harvested. The fruit was looked upon as a spiritual being and was adorned with such masks and feathers of the white cockatoo.
The object Yam mask “silgu” with the object ID 3032577 was last part of the auction 68th tribal art auction at March 3, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 28.
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
Aumann, Georg, Kunst und Kunsthandwerk aus Neu Guinea, Coburg 1986, p. 74, ill. 154