Mask Item Number: 3603/1 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Dome-shaped plant fibre mask. A cylindrical protrusion extends from top centre of mask, tapering to a thin woven tail; long pieces of braided fringe hang from bottom edge. Sides of mask are covered with nine woven bands, made up of different patterns. From top to bottom, designs are: plain brown, alternating black and natural, alternating brown and grey-brown, plain natural, alternating brown and grey-brown, alternating black and natural, alternating brown and natural, black, and alternating natural and faded green. Top of mask and cylindrical protrusion are light brown; fringe is mix of light and dark brown. Circular eye holes cut out on front of mask with tall walls surrounding them; pieces of bark(?) attached around cutouts, consisting of a vertical rectangle with a deep "V" cutout from the top edge, creating thin triangles above eye holes.

History Of Use

Initiation mask.

Narrative

The donor collected the mask in western Kenya, near Lake Victoria, in 1982.