New Guinea Ritual House Mask
Name/Title
New Guinea Ritual House MaskEntry/Object ID
MK_0216Description
Consider another New Guinea tribe's cultural and spiritual traditions with this extraordinary ritual house mask. A sentinel of tribal ancestry, this mask once adorned the gable of a ceremonial house in New Guinea's Black Water region, south of the Sepik river. Crafted with meticulous skill, it was made from woven basketry, coated with varnish, intricately modeled with clay, and adorned with vegetable paste pigments. Though time has gently weathered its hues, this mask's original vibrancy was a testament to the artistry of its creators. Painted with lime, red clay, ochre, and black pigments, it once cast an arresting gaze, embodying the cultural and spiritual essence of the Black Water tribe. This ceremonial house mask invites contemplation of the rich visual and symbolic heritage embedded in its faded yet evocative features. This treasured piece has been in the Mauna Kea's collection since 1965, when Laurance Rockefeller developed the hotel, but was in storage until 2024, and is now on display for the first time after undergoing an extensive restoration.Artwork Details
Medium
Woven RattanMade/Created
Artist
Artist unknownPlace
Region
Black Water RegionCountry
New GuineaContinent
OceaniaDimensions
Height
61 inWidth
19 inLength
36 inLocation
Area
5th Floor AtriumFloor
5th FloorBuilding
Main TowerRoom
Kamani RoomBuilding
HBR Main TowerRoom
Lloyd Sexton Gallery (LSG)Floor
Promenade LevelBuilding
Main TowerRoom
2nd Floor Art Storage RoomFloor
2nd FloorBuilding
Beach WingMK-MKBH Warehouse