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Portfolios%20%3D%20%22949%22%20and%20Century%20%3D%20%2220th%20Century%22%20and%20Disp_Obj_Type%20%3D%20%22Sculpture%22%20and%20Creation_Place2%20%3D%20%22Papua%20New%20Guinea%22
Sculpture
Yam Mask
Abelam artist, (active )
Abelam artist
Papua New Guinea
11 3/4 x 12 1/4 x 2 1/4 in. (29.8 x 31.1 x 5.7 cm)
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Grasses
Grasses
Abelam; Made in Maprik Region, Papua New Guinea
0
0
Oceanic, Oceanic art (Pacific Islands)
Sculpture
Abelam yam masks were never worn by humans. They are so small because they were made to adorn the long yams grown by the Abelam people of Papua New Guinea. These long yams, which were not eaten, grow up to 6-9 feet and were exchanged between men as a form of community building. An Abelam man’s prestige was measured in direct proportion to the size of his yams. Special long yams with anthropomorphic features were considered living supernatural beings and were lavishly decorated with paint, feathers, shells, leaves, and masks, and then publicly displayed. The interlacing between solid bands refers to the caterpillar found on yam vines.
[Gallery label text, 2009]
1974.78
item
Memorial Art Gallery
3/20/2001
74.78DI#2
digital image
6/18/2008
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Media/images/74.78_A1.jpg
74.78DI#2
digital image
Front
00/00/00
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Media/images/74.78_A2.jpg
Sculpture
Gable Mask
Iatmul artist, (active )
Iatmul artist
Papua New Guinea
14 3/4 x 7 11/16 x 4 1/2 in. (37.5 x 19.5 x 11.5 cm)
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overall
overall
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with mount
overall
Wood
Wood
Iatmul; made in Middle Sepik River Region, Papua New Guinea
0
0
Oceanic, Oceanic art (Pacific Islands), sculpture
Sculpture
The spiritual lives of Melanesian communities are dominated by Men’s Societies. The ceremonial Men’s House is the sacred dwelling place of the clan spirits, treasures, and of initiated men. Gable masks like this adorned the façades of Men’s Houses. Similar to gargoyles in medieval churches, these figures were meant to ward off troublesome spirits that can cause illness and spread mischief. Gable masks embodied powerful female, ancestral spirits.
[Gallery label text, 2009]
1973.139
item
Memorial Art Gallery
3/20/2001
73.139SL1
slide
2 x 2
00/00/00
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73.139DI1
digital image
2 x 2
00/00/00
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Media/images/73.139_A1.jpg
73.139DI#2
digital image
6/17/2008
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Media/images/73.139_A2.jpg
73.139DI#3
digital image
1/13/2009
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Media/images/73.139_A3.jpg
73.139TR1
transparency
Front
4 x 5
00/00/00
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Graphics/blank.gif
Sculpture
Spirit Board (Gope)
Papua New Guinean artist
Papua New Guinean artist
Papua New Guinea
Primary
54 x 12 3/4 in. (137.2 x 32.4 cm)
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Wood
Wood
Papua New Guinea; made in Gulf Province, Era River Region
1950-1987
1950
1987
Oceanic, Oceanic art (Pacific Islands), religious & ritual objects, sculpture
Sculpture
Traditionally, spirit or gope boards were considered dwelling places for individual spirits. Each spirit was linked to specific parts of the land, river or sea associated with the clan. They were kept in each clan’s cubicle within the larger Men’s House along with other items such as human and animal skulls meant to honor various spirits within their clan.
The boards' highly stylized imagery is believed to represent the way the spirit looks. While the imagery reflects certain consistencies within clans, their varied style and appearance reflects individual artists’ representations of individual spirits. Despite differences, every board has a face and a navel. The navel was particularly important because it served as the access point through which the spirit entered the board.
[Gallery label text, 2009]
1987.84
item
Memorial Art Gallery
3/20/2001
87.84SL1
slide
full
2 x 2
00/00/00
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Graphics/blank.gif
glossy
8 x 10
00/00/00
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Graphics/blank.gif
negative
4 x 5
00/00/00
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Graphics/blank.gif
87.84DI1
digital image
2 x 2
00/00/00
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Media/images/87.84_A1.jpg
87.84DI#2
digital image
6/10/2009
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Media/images/87.84_A2.jpg