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Máscara

mid to late 19th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 353
Las máscaras de caparazón de tortuga solo se encuentran en las islas del estrecho de Torres (entre Australia y Nueva Guinea). Se construyen calentando trozos del caparazón para curvarlos y obtener así la forma deseada; a continuación se perforan los bordes y se atan con fibras vegetales para crear formas tridimensionales. Esta máscara, quizá procedente de la isla de Mabuiag, se utilizaba para ceremonias funerarias y rituales de riqueza (ritos cuya finalidad era obtener ubérrimas cosechas y abundante caza y pesca). Durante los rituales, los hombres ataviados con máscaras, denominadas buk, krar o kara, y vestimentas de rafia escenificaban eventos de las vidas de héroes culturales primigenios. Es posible que esta máscara fuera el retrato de un héroe y que el pájaro fragata que la corona fuera su tótem.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Título: Máscara
  • Fecha: Mediados o finales del siglo XIX
  • Geografía: Australia, estrecho de Torres, probablemente isla Mabuiag
  • Material: Caparazón de tortuga, madera, plumas de casuario, fibra, resina, concha, pintura
  • Dimensiones: a. 54,6 cm
  • Crédito: Colección Conmemorativa de Michael C. Rockefeller, compra, donación de Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1967
  • Número de inventario: 1978.412.1510
  • Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing

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