Unknown
(Papua New Guinea)
- Title
- Kavat mask
- Other titles:
- Mask
- Place of origin
-
Gazelle Peninsula →
East New Britain Province →
New Britain →
Papua New Guinea
- Cultural origin
- Baining people
- Year
- collected 1965
- Media categories
- Ceremonial object, Sculpture
- Materials used
- mulberry bark, rattan frame, red and black natural pigments
- Dimensions
-
66.0 x 61.0 x 85.5cm overall
- Credit
- Purchased 1976
- Accession number
- 172.1976
- Location
- Not on display
- Further information
Kavat masks are made of tapa cloth stretched over a rattan framework, and are painted black and red and sometimes also yellow. The distinguishing features of kavat masks are out-size round eyes and a dangling or bent appendage below the mouth. Because of their form and, more importantly, because of the way they are painted, these masks are linked with various animals and plants. Leaf or pig spirits are represented in conjunction with flora and fauna encountered in the bush or hunted there, and many other animal motifs are also used.
excerpt from Ingrid Heermann (ed.), 'Form colour inspiration: Oceanic art from New Britain', Arnoldsche, Stuttgart, 2001
- Bibliography (1)
-
Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia, estab. 1874) (Editor), Catalogue of acquisitions 1976, Domain, 1976, 99 (illus.). cat.no. 303
