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Barag mask

Turubu people, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea
Barag mask
 (1950s)

Medium
earth pigments on wood

Measurements
51.0 × 16.3 × 20.5 cm

Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Presented through the NGV Foundation by Todd Barlin, Governor, 2005

Reproduction requests

Gallery location
Not on display

Artwork Details

Place/s of Execution
Turubu, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

Accession Number
2005.387

Department
Pacific Art

This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Vizard Foundation

Physical description
The Barag spirit mask - highly stylised and with an unusually pointed long nose - is the rarest form of mask from the Turubu area, East Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea. The mask is carved in relief and heavily decorated with red pigments and shells. The pierced holes around the edges of the mask signify that the mask would have been worn by men a ceremonies such as male initiation and to promote hunting magic.

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