Face mask

Although collected in the village of Wom, on the coast to the southeast of Wewak, this mask is characteristic of the style of masks made on the island of Vokeo, with its multi-layered spiral nasal ornament and the small conical tenon carved into the extension of the chin.

Called lewa by the Wogeo people, the face is naturalistic in style, with a high, rounded forehead divided by a crenellated midrib, large nostrils, and semi-circular pierced ears sculpted in high relief, supporting ornaments. Holes drilled around the perimeter indicate that the mask was wearing a headdress.
Our model still has its horizontal wooden axle attached to the back, enabling the dancer to hold the mask, which he clenched between his teeth during use.

This rare and ancient mask from the Schouten Islands is a representation of the mythical tangbwal spirit , invoked to provide food supplies for festivities. According to Anthony ^Meyer1, “masked men would appear in the village and dance. Their role was to proclaim and enforce the ban on collecting coconuts, so that there would be enough left when the time came”. While the sago palm fiber dance costumes were destroyed after the ritual, the lewa masks were kept for subsequent ceremonies. The nose ornament is reminiscent of the shell rings worn by Shouten island warriors as a sign of prestige.”
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1- Meyer. 1995, p.184

Price: €9,500