Mask
| Culture | Astrolabe Bay |
|---|---|
| Title | Mask |
| Date | Before 1925 |
| Medium | Wood, pigment, and and incrustation |
| Dimensions | Object: 16 1/4 × 10 15/16 × 7 13/16 in. (41.3 × 27.8 × 19.8 cm) Overall: 16 1/4 × 10 15/16 × 7 13/16 in. (41.3 × 27.8 × 19.8 cm) |
| Credit Line | Raymond and Laura Wielgus Collection, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 2010.4 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
A mask in the shape of a human face painted with white, red, and black pigment that is now well worn. The face has large eyes with large, half-closed eyelids, and a large nose.
Objects associated with youth initiations, such as this mask, are found in many parts of the South Pacific islands and Africa. These initiations, which may last several months and often include periods of seclusion, are the rites by which young men and/or women receive the training and education necessary to be considered adult members of their communities. In addition to appearing at initiations, this mask was also worn at dances of a secret men's cult, of which little is known. The circular projections on the mask represent shell and tusk ornaments.
Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.
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Cite this page
"Mask | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=2010.4