RecordFunerary dance mask (tatanua), worn during special commemorative festivals (malagan)< 1 of 1 > Back in New Ireland, Melanesia
Funerary dance mask (tatanua), worn during special commemorative festivals (malagan)This dance mask, representing an ancestral spirit, was made for a 'malagan' ceremony. These communal festivals were to commemorate important members of the community, and to give their spirits a good send-off. The mask shows a stylised human-like face, with sharp teeth, lifelike eyes made from parts of snails, and elaborate headgear. Malagan ceremonies took several days, cost a lot to organise, and often took place several years after an important person died. Dances, at which the spirits of ancestors were invoked, formed part of the complex ceremonies. Record detailsTo search on related items, click any linked text below.
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