Lot 67: An extremely rare Nakanai Fiber mask, New Britain

Lowland Nakanai people, New Britain; L: 85"

Made of beaten bark fiber over a cane frame, and painted in bright colors. Some minor areas of tearing, but overall exceptionally good condition. On a custom base.

Comments:
According to John Edler who collected this and most of the other known examples, Masks of this type were used by the lowland Nakanai people in the biannual 'Galip Nut festival' (Canarium indicum). Masks of this type, depicting birds would run through the village and listen to complaints from the inhabitants. These would later be addressed by the villagers, thus promoting village harmony. Very few examples are known to exist.

Provenance:
Field Collected by John C. Edler, former curator of the Hemmiter collection, IND

Price Realized: $1,600

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