Papua New Guinea Savi Dance Iatmul Mask

This is a wonderful and very Old Dramatic Dance Mask with a Woven Fiber Webbing and Fern on the Back and adorned with feathers from the Iatmul Tribe, Sepik River, Papua New Guinea. In Papua New Guinea tribes live with the spirit world. They are as much in tune with their ancestors’ spirits, as well as benevolent and malicious spirits, as they are with the natural world they inhabit. Most masks are not meant to wear on the face, with the exception of dance masks. They are usually carved out of the orange-hued wood of the Artocarpus tree, and painted to increase the mask’s power. They are believed to be inhabited by any number of spirits, and are hung in significant locations in the village to ward off enemy tribal spirits, life hardships, as well as to give strength and courage in the daily struggle of tribal life. The Spirit House, the holy house of Papua New Guinea tribes, and the location of the male scarification in some of the villages, houses the most powerful and ritualistic masks. Only select male tribe members are allowed to enter this building; women are forbidden. This a fabulous mask to add to your collection or home.

Mid-20th Century

COMES ON A STAND

This mask shows age, discoloration, part of the webbing in the back is missing, but overall is in good condition. This is part of the Burt Fink Collection.

Mask on Stand

23" tall

Mask

17" tall with Webbing

Mask

14" tall

10" wide

6" deep mask to feathers

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