Description:

Indonesia, western Irian Jaya / West Papua, Asmat people, ca. early to mid 20th century CE. A beautifully preserved example of a Jipae festival body mask composed of a woven basketry bodice, a dangling sago leaves skirt, and a woven head piece. Stalk-like wooden eyes painted white form the face of the mask, which is also known as a doroe or dekewar. Thick white feathers hang from a wooden stalk that rises from the top of the head. Ceramic beads and more white feathers hang in short cords from the sides of the face. The woven surface is alternating white and pale red. Size (with skirt dangling): 26" W x 58" H (66 cm x 147.3 cm); 74" H (188 cm) on included custom stand.

Masks in the Jipae festival represent the deceased. The Asmat dance the ceremony to urge these ancestors to return to the "safan", the world of the ancestors. Fascinatingly, each mask corresponded to a specific deceased member of the community, and the dancer wearing the mask had agreed to take on the responsibilities of the deceased, including caring for their children.

Provenance: private Tucson, Arizona, USA collection, acquired between 1950 and 1985

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#147631

  • Condition: Light wear commensurate with age. Some of the pigment is wearing away/flaking. Overall in excellent condition given the fragility of its materials.

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November 14, 2019 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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