Mask

According to Van Renselaar (for reference see card 58-17-3) these masks are woven of bark-thread by a "knotless netting" technique. They are worn in the "j'pae ritual," a death ceremony, by the relatives of the deceased, and are considered very scared. Completed masks have wooden eye frames and a plumage attached to the crown, and a skirt. This mask is approximately waist length, The nose and ears are formed by a loop; there are also two loops and a small tube of the same fiber on the chest and loops on the back of the head. Small grey seeds surround the eye holes and ear ornaments are made of the same kind of shells and long black tubes and shredded tassels. The ear ornaments dangle to the shoulders. There are also small holes in the front and back about at the neck. The whole mask is painted alternately red (burnt earth) and white (lime) following the contours of the netting.