Basketry Yam Mask
Place made:East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea
Probable place made:
Culture: Abelam
Date: early- 20th century
Medium: Rattan and withes
Dimensions:
h. 28 in. (71.1 cm); l. 26 in. (66 cm); d. 15 3/4 in. (40 cm)
Credit Line: San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Gilbert M. Denman, Jr.
Object number: 77.1038
Label Text
Basketry masks, made of rattan, are regarded as female representations despite the fact that in the Maprik district they are woven exclusively by men. The men take a large blade of grass and using their teeth, strip out the center, leaving the outer edges to be used as weft to cover the foundation of coils of the mask. Most masks are painted with local clay pigments and natural dyes. Yam masks are also connected with clan initiations and yam cultivation. (Gallery label)
On view
In Collection(s)
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.
This resource has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.
