Tangbwal Spirit Mask (Lewa)

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Tangbwal Spirit Mask (Lewa)

Artist: Unknown

Place made:Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

Date: early- 20th century

Medium: Wood

Dimensions:

h. 24 in. (61 cm)

Credit Line: San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Gilbert M. Denman, Jr.

Object number: 77.1036

Label Text

"Tangbwal" spirits were called forth to regulate the food supply in preparations for ceremonial feasts. For about three to four months, masked dancers appeared in the village to issue and enforce a ban on the collection of coconuts so that a sufficient quantity would be available for the forthcoming event. When enough coconuts had ripened, the Tangbwal left the village on a mythical vessel represented by a platform in the shape of a canoe. The people showed great distress at the departure of the spirits, which was treated symbolically as a death. The dance costumes were destroyed after the cycle but the masks, called "lewa," were kept for the next time. It is generally accepted that, in the Lower Sepik River region, a long nose, like this one, represents a spiritual being, while a naturalistic nose portrays a true ancestor.

On view

In Collection(s)

Oceanic Art

The San Antonio Museum of Art is in the process of digitizing its permanent collection. This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect SAMA's complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of such records is ongoing.

Artwork

Tangbwal Spirit Mask (Lewa)

Tangbwal Spirit Mask (Lewa)