Mask

Made of plaited rattan. Egg-shaped sloping towards back; top almost comes to a point, hole in middle. No ears; headpiece curves away from face. Face partially outlined by a wrapped strip; concentric series of semicircular open spaces outline the eye. Open space below nose also; nose is a raised ridge which loops down and back on itself. Face area is painted alternately red and yellow, nose is red and black. Rest of the mask, except for the top, is completely painted in simple geometric designs in white, black, grey, yellow and red. Mask seems to have been covered by a thin layer of clay and then painted over. Used in men's initiation ceremonies.