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mask cover

human history
  • Description

    Mask cover used in funeral. Nakani people, New Britain.

    Small barkcloth mask cover with facial features painted on in black, white, yellow and pink. Rare.

  • Place
    New Britain/Bismarck Archipelago/New Guinea (PRE 1975)
  • Accession Number
    1996.112.1
  • Accession Date
    14 Sep 1996
  • Other Id

    55160 (ethnology)

  • Department

    Pacific

Images and documents

Images

  • mask cover

Artefact

  • Credit Line
    Collection of Auckland Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, 1996.112.1, 55160
  • Public Access Text

    'Mask covers such as these were worn during funerary ceremonies by the Nakanai people of east New Britain. The participants would wear these masks with decorated capes. In a traditional Nakanai funerary ritual, after several months of dancing, feasting and processions, the mourning was concluded when all of the barkcloth costumes were consigned to the grave with the body. This explains why Nakanai tapa is so rare in museum collections.

    ' Neich and Pendergrast, 'Pacific Tapa', 1997.

  • Cultural Origin

    New Britain

  • Place
    New Britain/Bismarck Archipelago/New Guinea (PRE 1975)
  • Date
    Circa 1950s
  • Media

    bark cloth

  • Measurement Reading

    400mm

    400mm

  • Classification

    Bark Cloth

    Textileworking T&E

    Tools & Equipment

    Mask

    Ceremonial Artefacts

    Communication Artefacts

  • Last Update
    20 Aug 2021
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