Courtesy of the Harn Museum of Art, Photography by Randy Batista

Mask for Malangan (tatanua)

Maker Papua New Guinea , Malangan area, New Ireland

Datelate 19th - early 20th century

Made/manufacturedPapua New Guinea, Oceania

MediumWood, rattan, coconut fibers, lime, pigments, Turbo petholatus opercula, cotton trade cloth

Dimensions15 1/2 x 16 x 5 in. (39.4 x 40.6 x 12.7 cm)

ClassificationsClothing and accessories

Credit LineGift of the C. Frederick and Aase B. Thompson Foundation

Object number2009.12.2

Collections

OCEANIC

DescriptionHuman face mask with large arched superstructure of rattan, thick, fiber brush on top, with light pigment on side filling swirl motif; face has operculum shell eyes, with hook nose, mouth has lips that are parted and flattened to form perpendicular plane to face. Face is painted with finely lined motifs, varied pigments against light ground.