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MASKS
& TUMBUANS
MASKS in
Papua New Guinea cultures serve a variety of spiritual, cultural and decorative
purposes. 90% of the masks available for sale in PNG are from the Sepik region,
where the production and use of masks is an important part of traditional
culture.
Ancestral masks represent deceased ancestors while spirit
masks embody tribal spirits. Ancestral and spirit masks are not designed to be
"worn" but are mounted in men's houses, spirit houses and other
locations of importance. Gable masks (usually woven from cane) are mounted on
house gables to protect the occupants from marauding spirits. Dance masks (and
tumbuans) on the other hand are used functionally as accessories in traditional
dancing and performances of cultural rites. Woven yam masks are used to
decorate large yams unearthed during harvest.
Some of the masks we supply are newly crafted in villages
and shipped directly to Port Moresby for sale. Other masks are used in the
villages before being sold. Many of our masks are purchased from local markets
and we may not know the "history" of each piece.
A TUMBUAN is a body mask which may cover the head,
shoulders, and torso. Most tumbuans are woven from cane, grass, leaves, sago
spathe or fashioned from light wood, bark or tapa attached to a frame. Tumbuans
represent spirits, and are worn during traditional dances or cultural rites. We
supply recently crafted tumbuans which are ex-village or ex-culture festival.
We do not deal in antique tumbuans.
No two
masks or tumbuans can ever be exactly the same. Each is crafted by a different
artist, representing a different ancestor or spirit, and is therefore unique. Photographs
shown below are samples of types, not pictures of specific items currently
available. We can supply masks and tumbuans of similar size, type and
quality to those shown in the photographs below, although exact appearance
varies.
In general,
masks of common types and standard size (25-35 inches high) are USD60 each and
larger, rarer or more ornate masks are USD110 each.
Retail
prices quoted are in US dollars. Discounts apply to bulk orders.
Back to PNG Handcraft Exports home page
Email:
info@pnghandcrafts.8k.com
SEPIK ANCESTRAL MASKS
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Item-a01 |
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Item-a02 |
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Item-a03 |
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Item-a04 |
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Item-a05 |
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Item-a06 |
SEPIK SPIRIT MASKS
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Item-a07 |
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Item-a08 |
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Item-a09 |
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Item-a10 |
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Item-a11 |
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Item-a12 (Mwai mask) |
SEPIK WOVEN MASKS
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Item-a13 |
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Item-a14 |
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Item-a15 |
SEPIK YAM MASKS
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Item-a16 |
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Item-a17 (Gourd frame) |
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Item-a18 |
MIDDLE RAMU SPIRIT MASKS
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Item-a19 |
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Item-a20 |
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Item-a21 |
OTHER MASKS
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Item-a22 Morobe ceremonial mask 40" USD110 |
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Item-a23 Sepik canoe prow mask 20" USD60 |
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Item-a24 Sepik dance mask |
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Item-a25 Baining fire dance mask 55" USD260 |
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The spectacular Baining fire dance of East New Britain |
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TUMBUANS
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Item-b01a Large cane tumbuan, head 20" + grass
30" USD190 |
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Item-b01b |
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Item-b03a Small cane tumbuan 20" USD110 |
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Item-b03b |
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Item-b04a Cane tumbuan-mask
with grass, head 25" + grass 20" USD110 |
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Item-b04b |
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