Courtesy of the Harn Museum of Art, Photography by Foad Seyed Mohammadi

Mai Mask

Maker Iatmul people

Date20th century

Made/manufacturedAsia

MediumWood, clay, cowrie and nassa shells, hair, boar tusks, pigment

Dimensions27 x 6 1/2 x 4 3/4 in. (68.6 x 16.5 x 12.1 cm)

ClassificationsCostume

Credit LineGift of Dr. Samuel Spring

Object numberS85-SPNG-G259

On View

Not on view

Collections

OCEANIC

DescriptionTraditional 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.