Lot: 22

85th Tribal Art Auction

Yams mask "silgu"

Papua New Guinea, Abelam

Provenance Size Starting price / estimated price
H: 7.7 inch This object is not available anymore.

lygodium, openworked, wickerwork coated with layers of pigments, which means that this particular yam mask must have adorned the head of a number of particular long yam roots;
masks of that kind were used when the "big yam" was harvested. The fruit was looked upon as a spiritual being and was adorned with such masks and feathers of the white cockatoo.