218. Buk (mask). Torres Strait. Mid-to-late 19th century CE Turtle shell, wood, fiber, feathers, and shell

• Form
  • Turtle shell mask
  • some masks combine human and animal forms
  • this mask shows a bird placed on top
• Content
  • Torres Strait is the water passageway between Australia and New Guinea
  • Turtle Shell masks are unique to this region
  • used with grass costumes in ceremonies about :
    • death
    • fertility
    • male initiation
  • ceremonies involved
    • fire, drum beats, and chanting
    • recreating mythical ancestral beings
    • their impact on these people in everyday activities