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Italiano

Maschera

mid to late 19th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 353
Le maschere di tartaruga sono peculiari delle isole dello stretto di Torres, ubicate tra l’Australia e la Nuova Guinea. Erano costruite scaldando singoli pezzi di guscio di tartaruga, che venivano piegati nella forma desiderata, forati ai bordi e legati insieme per mezzo di fibre in modo da creare forme tridimensionali. Questa maschera probabilmente proviene dall’isola di Mabuiag e forse veniva usata durante cerimonie funebri e riti propiziatori allo scopo di assicurare raccolti abbondanti, pesca e caccia copiose. Durante tali riti gli uomini indossavano maschere note come buk, krar o kara e fruscianti costumi per danzare intrecciati con erba, mettendo in scena eventi tratti dalla vita degli eroi di epoche primordiali. La maschera qui raffigurata, che potrebbe rappresentare uno di tali eroi, è sormontata da un uccello, la fregata, forse il suo totem personale.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Titolo: Maschera
  • Data: Metà-fine del XIX secolo
  • Area geografica: Australia, stretto di Torres, probabilmente isola di Mabuiag
  • Materiale e tecnica: Tartaruga, legno, piume di casuario, fibra, resina, conchiglia, pittura
  • Dimensioni: Alt. 54,6 cm
  • Crediti: The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, acquistato, donazione di Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1967
  • Numero d'inventario: 1978.412.1510
  • Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing

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