Mask

Unknown

mid to late 19th century · Wood, paint · Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Mask Tolai people, New Britain, Papua New Guinea, mid to late 19th century Wood, paint Gift of Evelyn A. J. Hall, 1981 (1981.331.3) Ex coll.: Linden-Museum, Stuttgart, Germany; collected by Paul Sandel in the 1880s New Britain The peoples of the island of New Britain northeast of New Guinea are remarkable for the scale and variety of their ritual arts, which include diverse forms of masks and other ceremonial paraphernalia. Many of the island’s largest and most spectacular art forms are made from ephemeral materials such as plant pith or bark cloth (a paper-like textile made from the inner bark of certain trees). For both day and night dances, the Baining of northern New Britain create imposing bark cloth masks, examples of which are on view here and in the adjoining case. The Sulka people and neighboring groups produce enormous, vividly colored headdresses and dance paraphernalia also made primarily from perishable materials, although some include durable wood elements. The Tolai people produce a variety of mask forms in wood and fiber as well as dance wands and other ritual paraphernalia. Contemporary New Britain peoples are predominantly Christian, but many of these ritual art forms continue to be created and used alongside, or as part of, Christian religious observances.

Artist

Unknown

Date

mid to late 19th century

Medium

Wood, paint

Culture

Tolai people

Department

Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Credit line

Gift of Evelyn A. J. Hall, 1981