Mask Item Number: 3277/25 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Large mask of wood. The eyes are inlaid cowrie shells with painted designs extending out from a star-like centre. Large protruding nose has pig tusks extending out of each nostril, with a string of bird feathers attached on both sides. The forehead, nostrils and chin are decorated with red clay inlaid with small white shells. Long black cassowary feathers extend out of the top of the head. The jaw is lined with a fringe of plant fibre. The face is painted with concentric curved lines extending out from the eyes, and the ears are painted with stripes and have many holes in a vertical line. The back of the mask is painted black.
Narrative
Collected by Jack Lieber in Papua New Guinea, Eastern Highlands Division, from August 1970 - June 1972. He was researching village communities in and around Goroka, where he was lecturing under the auspices of UNESCO at the Goroka Teachers College.
Item History
- Made in East Sepik, Papua New Guinea
- Collected between 1970 and 1972
- Owned by Jack Lieber before 2015
- Owned by Iris Lieber before December 8, 2017
- Received from Iris Lieber (Donor) on December 8, 2017
What
- Name
- Mask
- Identification Number
- 3277/25
- Type of Item
- mask
- Material
- wood, pig tusk, cassowary feather, feather, paint, plant fibre, clay, shell and cowrie shell
- Overall
- height 123.0 cm, width 37.0 cm, depth 15.0 cm
Who
- Culture
- New Guinea
- Previous Owner
- Jack Lieber and Iris Lieber
- Received from
- Iris Lieber (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- East Sepik, Papua New Guinea
When
- Collection Date
- between 1970 and 1972
- Ownership Date
- before 2015 and before December 8, 2017
- Acquisition Date
- on December 8, 2017
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 3277/0025