Mask (Wale or Ware)

Unknown

19th–early 20th century · Wood, paint · Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Coastal Boiken groups formerly created masks (wale or ware), representing a variety of male and female spirits. Used by men during ceremonial performances, most were not placed directly on the face but were attached to a basketry framework that covered the dancer's head and was worn with a knee-length grass skirt. When not in use, the masks were kept as sacred objects within the men's ceremonial house. According to oral tradition, masks originated when women heard the sounds of underwater spirits. The men, attempting to find the source of the sound, probed the water with poles. Eventually, one man, Pantjapong, dived in and saw the spirits, who were wearing large masks. When he returned, the other men asked him to create masks resembling those worn by the spirits, which became the first masks.

Artist

Unknown

Date

19th–early 20th century

Medium

Wood, paint

Culture

coastal Boiken people

Department

Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1977