Body Masks

Listen to my story

Asmat Body Masks 

Auckland Museum had no jipae (funerary-feast dance costumes) or mamakoro (dance costumes) until these were gifted to the Museum by Australian artefact dealer, Todd Barlin.

Todd Barlin’s gift of 92 rare West Irian/ Irian Jaya items in 2002 was extraordinary in that, as an artefact dealer, the sale of artefacts is Todd’s livelihood. Auckland Museum has had many great benefactors over the years. For the Ethnology Department, Todd Barlin is one of many who have helped build the collection, and without whose assistance we would not have the world class collections we do today.