Mask Item Number: 3439/1 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Carved and painted wood mask. The mask is long and thin, with a long nose that curves and connects with the mouth area. The eyes are inlaid cowrie shells within a painted black area. The jaw and mouth area are also inlaid with two rows of cowrie shells - small shells around the interior, and larger shells around the outer edge. The jaw is lined with dark brown plant fibre beard on a braided cord. At the top centre of the head is a hole with a short length of braided plant fibre tied looped through.

Narrative

Dr. Frits Bossen was 28 years old when he was posted to Samoa, in 1973, as a veterinarian on a training assignment with the FAO/UNDP. While there he also traveled to other islands in the area. In the early 1980s he traveled through the South Pacific again.