In certain regions of New Ireland, men are expected to enact numerous precautions before donning masks believed to possess volatile powers. Wearing this crested helmet with the unnerving eyes of opercula sea snails was a test of the male capacity to concentrate on spiritual strength. If not properly prepared, the mask was considered capable of constricting the performer's head, causing blood to run from his temples and nostrils. Lime dust, seawater and the light of dawn were used to bless the mask and help the wearer rise above the divisive rumors, conflicts and intrigue that surrounded each performance.
Wood, polychromed, bark, fiber, clay, and shell
15 1/2 x 7 1/2 x 17 in. (39.37 x 19.05 x 43.18 cm)
Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection
50.174
Provenance: Purchased from Altman Antiques; Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection, 1950
Not currently on view
Resources
Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, The Untold Story, November 14, 2003 - November 14, 2004
Seattle Art Museum respectfully acknowledges that we are on Indigenous land, the traditional territories of the Coast Salish people. We honor our ongoing connection to these communities past, present, and future.
