Melanesian Artefacts:

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Baba Tagwa Mask (Abelam):
Baba Tagwa Mask (Abelam)
The Abelam Baba Tagwa Mask from the Wosera Region, has plaited work built out from a rattan oval-hoop to a central plaited strip nose which terminates at the lower end in an open loop. An openwork crest and a hoop are attached across the forehead at an angle. The mask also has two bulging eyes made up of concentric plaited-disc rings. The exterior surface of the mask has been impregnated with clay. Material: rattan, cane, clay, pigments; height: 340mm; width: 275mm; depth: 320mm; dusty matt patina on weathered rattan.
The heads of the baba tagwa are stored but every so often a new skirt is made and during initiation the figure is decorated with a necklace of a bright orange and green inedible fruit, called mban. The baba figure is found throughout the Abelam area but the style of the helmet mask varies from region to region. The Abelam people are located in the Middle Sepik region of the East Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea.
Artefact Code: ML0188
New Guinea showing the region of the Abelam people in the Maprik area, north of the Sepik River

Map 1: New Guinea and the region of the Abelam in the Maprik area, north of the Sepik River, in the East Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea.
References:
Koch, G. 1968
Koch, Gerd. KULTUR DER ABELAM. Die Berliner "Maprik" - Sammlung. BNo.: n/a. First Edition, 1968 (pb). Pp: 112; 235mm x 170mm; 0.62kg. 14 col, 283 b/w, 1 map. Literatur, beschreibung der abgebilgeldeten objekte (katalog), index. A paperback copy. Museum Fur Volkerkunde Berlin, Berlin, 1968. (All text is in the German language. The book contains numerous photographs of artefacts from the Abelam region of Papua New Guinea) (Keywords: Ethnology, Pacific, Melanesia, New Guinea, Abelam).
Losche, D. 1982
Losche, Diane. THE ABELAM. A people of Papua New Guinea. BNo.: 0-7240-1526-4. First Edition, 1982 (pb). Pp: 74; 200mm x 215mm; 0.23kg. 42 col, 27 b/w, 5 fig, 5 maps. Further reading. A paperback copy. The Australian Museum, Sydney, 1982. (This book is designed as an introduction to anthropology and to provide an understanding and appreciation of other societies and their way of life) (Keywords: Anthropology, Pacific, Melanesia, New Guinea, Abelam).
Baba Tagwa Mask (Abelam)
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