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Very long traditional shaped mask with long nose attached to chin. Bird head extending from chin. Conical eyes with nassa shells. High forehead. Tusks extending either side of nose.
Mai Mask
Courtesy of the Harn Museum of Art, Photography by Foad Seyed Mohammadi

Mai Mask

Maker Iatmul , Korogo village
Date20th century
Place of originAsia
MediumWood, clay, cowrie and nassa shells, boar tusks, hair, pigment
Dimensions28 3/4 x 5 1/4 x 5 in.
ClassificationsClothing and accessories
Credit LineGift of Dr. Samuel Spring
Object numberS85-SPNG-G169
Collections
Visual DescriptionVery long traditional shaped mask with long nose attached to chin. Bird head extending from chin. Conical eyes with nassa shells. High forehead. Tusks extending either side of nose.
Traditional elongated facial mask with long nose pierced at septum with boar tusk extending to chin where bird protrudes down. Face surrounded by shells embedded in clay. Shells on nose extension. Human hair at top of head beneath plaited raffia loop for hanging. Small inset shells for eyes underneath carved protruding brows. Dark stain. Painted traditional designs.
Mai Mask
Iatmul
20th century
Body masquerade woven(?) horizontally of woven rattan. Pig face with snout from which feathers, twine and fabric dangle. Cowrie shell eyes. Headdress of face. Earrings ? object in nose dangle from ears. Tusks extending from one side of mouth. Rows of cassowary feathers extend length of body and fringe hangs at bottom. Highlighted with earth pigment.
Pig dance costume
Iatmul
20th century
Woven basketry cone shaped from topped with traditional Sepik human head made of clay and painted designs. Large shell eyes, typical nose and protruding tongue. Hair beard. Face encircled in shells, embedded with clay. On basketry torso is the "dual" ancestor's face mocking the larger predominate face. Raffia fringe extends from bottom. Handle on side and back. Wood plug earring. Raffia fringe covers armholes inside. Striped design in red, black and yellow.
Dual ancestral costume
Iatmul
20th century
Woven rattan helmet-type mask with attached clay covered rattan disk as face. Large pierced nose. Cowrie shell beard. Small slit mouth and eyes. Surrounded by cassowary feathers.
Initiation Mask
Iatmul
20th century
Long open ? plaited fiber cap. When worn extends down back and ends in small likeness of lizard or crocodile with mouth. Strands of fiber adorned with cowrie shells and painted with red and white pigment. Small twine loops with evidence of feathers at top.
Bridal Headpiece (ambusap)
Iatmul
20th century
Finely woven rattan body costume with hanging fiber. Wings and head made from plaited string. Long neck. Design painted on predominately black body. Shell eye. Cassowary feathers extend down sides and ridge of back. Dangling twine from circular disc ears.
Cassowary Dance Costume
Iatmul
20th century
A dark wooden mask featuring deep round eyes, a prominent nose, and an open mouth showing teeth. Cowrie shells are attached to the upper edge, and a thick fringe of dark feathers and fibers surrounds the lower face.
Mask (gle)
Dan Artist
undated
Simple necklace of two boar tusks joined together with plaited fiber hanging from strand of gray seeds. Curved tusks project left and right and lie flat against surface.
Boar's Tusk Necklace
New Guinean
20th century
A long, slender spear with a polished reddish-brown wooden shaft. The top features a flat, flared dark metal blade. The bottom ends in a pointed dark metal spike, just below a bound cluster of cowrie shells.
Spear
Liberian Artist
undated
Mask with long pointed snout, large inset glass eyes, surmounted face with carved linear coiffure and four diminutive figures with spiraling loop at the back, shells, fiber and patina.
Mask (Ulaga or Ojionu)
Igbo Artist
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A carved dark wooden mask with a vertical forehead ridge and a horizontal white stripe across slit eyes. It has an open, toothed mouth and is framed by a woven fabric band adorned with cowrie shells and colorful beads.
Face Mask (deangle)
Dan Artist
20th century
A voluminous garment constructed from layered, mismatched textiles like red plaid, black velvet, and colorful patterned fabrics. The head is obscured by wrapped cloths, and a textured, woven chest piece decorated with small triangular pendants hangs down the front.
Ancestor Spirit Masquerade Costume (egungun)
Yoruba Artist
20th century

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