Culture Northern New Ireland
Title Mask (Tatanua)
Date Late 19th–20th century
Medium Wood, pigment, fiber, and and sea-snail opercula
Dimensions Object: 15 × 5 × 15 in. (38.1 × 12.7 × 38.1 cm)
Overall (includes mount): 23 1/4 × 9 × 16 in. (59.1 × 22.9 × 40.6 cm)
Credit Line Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Henry R. Hope, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University
Accession Number 63.15
About this Work
In addition to the carvings utilized as part of the Malangan in northern New Ireland, dances performed for the public were also a significant aspect of the ceremonies to honor the deceased. This mask was worn by men and was created to convey manly beauty. The high crest represents a hairstyle worn by young men of the community during mourning. Additionally, the flaring nostrils and open mouth are common features for the form.
While the hairstyle shown is one worn by young men, the subject the mask depicts is not clearly agreed upon. Early reports suggest that the masks are representations of the dead, ancestors who have returned in order to participate in the Malangan. Many New Irelanders today reject this idea and instead believe the masks to be the representations of living people. It is unclear if this early report was mistaken or if people’s interpretation of the masks has changed over time.
These masks, which typically appear at the end of the Malangan ceremonies, are danced in pairs or groups. These dance performances are often given and paid for by a friend or by family members of the deceased. Unlike the carvings associated with Malangan that are created uniquely for the individual, dance masks are often rented from the sculptor who created them and can be reused in the future.
