Maskette

70-9-185D

From: Canada | Ontario | Six Nations Reservation

Curatorial Section: American

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Object Number 70-9-185D
Current Location Collections Storage
Culture Cayuga | Iroquois
Provenience Canada | Ontario | Six Nations Reservation
Culture Area Northeast Culture Area
Section American
Materials Wood | Pigment
Iconography Ritual Object
Description

"Series of Six Miniature Masks - Used in Dream Guessing Rite to cure disease by guessing the spirit cause. When that is guessed it is a cure and a miniature image of the spirit is carved by the chief who guessed the illness and given to the patient to keep. These masks represent the major types of mask spirits which cause and cure disease in people. Given by John Buck who got them from a Cayuga who had them in his family for many years. Some are very old." (catalogue card)

Height 3.3 cm
Width 1.9 cm
Credit Line Bequest of Samuel Pennypacker, 1970

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