Huli, Southern Highlands, PNG

Both gourd masks are made, and originate from the Huli tribe in the far western reaches of the Southern Highlands, now known as Hewa. These masks were associated with the haroli cult, where male initiates were isolated from the community for 1-2 years to be instructed by the revered Haroli bachelor. These initiates had special human hairwigs, and used these masks as part of the cult. Both collected by Helen Dennett, who lived in PNG from early 1960s-1980s.

a) Is small and fine gourd mask using the bright Huli colors of red and yellow. This mask would have been made to
attach to the ritualy important yupin figure during ceremony.

b) The larger mask is much finer in its detail, human hair, small pig teeth, and finer use of the main red and yellow
colours, combined with tiny white dots. Village repair on the back.

a) 11.5 x 10 x 6.5 cm
b) 22 x 13 x 11 cm