ANCESTOR MASK

Lower Sepik River, Papua New Guinea

These small masks are hung, sometimes near the entry door to the village house or, sometimes inside the house. They are essentially protective masks, to keep evil influences and spells away from those inside. Each mask is always different and has something personal from the carver. The forehead on this mask shows two meanings. The white lines relate to feathers - hence the wings of birds, and things of the air. 

Size:  27 cm (length) 12.5 cm (width) 

Weight: 293 grams