Description
Original tribal mask from the Sepik River area in Papua New Guinea.
Many tribal Masks are made to empower objects. They were to empower sacred flutes canoes, the Haus Man, as lucky amulets and even yams. Other Tribal masks were not made to wear directly on the head but were part of a larger assemblage. Masks that people wear are normally referred to as dance masks.
Many masks are wooden but there are others made from tree bark over a rattan frame. Not all areas of Papua New Guinea made masks
Types of Papua New Guinea Tribal masks vary from very small Amulet masks only a few centimeters, to huge Baining masks over 10 meters tall.
In Papua New Guinea it is only men who wear or make masks and they must be an initiate in that cult. Masks are not used by women. It is Tabboo for women to see masks other than during a ceremony.
Masks are the spirits and ancestral deities. When worn the initiate becomes the spirit / tumbuwan the mask represents. Masks are still used today in New Guinea and dance during ceremonial occasions.
