Yams mask "silgu" · Papua New Guinea, Abelam · ID: 3041641
Description
lygodium, openworked, wickerwork coated with layers of pigments, which means that this particular yam mask must have adorned the head of a number of particular long yam roots;
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 Yams mask “silgu” with the object ID 3041641 was last part of the auction 85th Tribal Art Auction at March 4, 2017 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 22.
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.