Yam Mask
| Culture | Abelam |
|---|---|
| Title | Yam Mask |
| Date | 20th century |
| Medium | Fiber and pigment |
| Dimensions | Object: 18 1/8 × 9 5/8 × 5 1/4 in. (46 × 24.4 × 13.3 cm) Overall: 18 1/8 x 9 5/8 x 5 1/4 in. (46 x 24.4 x 13.3 cm) |
| Credit Line | Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 71.13.2 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
Successfully growing extraordinarily large yams - some of which might be as long as twelve feet - is a traditional way for an Abelam man to achieve high social status. Each man exchanges his yams with a partner, always with the goal of presenting larger yams than he is offered. During the presentation ceremonies, men adorn their yams in ceremonial regalia, including specially made masks, such as the one shown here.
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
"Yam 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=71.13.2