Basket Yam Mask - Maprik Area, New Guinea

Basket Yam Mask, Maprik Area, New Guinea. Fiber

Used in harvest ceremonies to represent clan
ancestor spirits of the long yams.  One of a kind piece.
30" x 13"
Ship Oversize

Basket yam masks are woven by the men. They take a large grass and using their teeth, strip out the center. The pliable outer edges are used as weft to cover the foundation coils of the mask. Very complex 3-dimensional and filigreed shapes are formed. Most masks are painted with local clay pigments and natural dyes, although trade store enamel or acrylic paints, especially red, are occasionally used