Mask (rom heb’ror’r’)
- Culture
- Ambrym Island artist
- Date
- mid- to late 20th century
- Material
- Plant matter, pigment
- from
- Malampa province, Vanuatu, Oceania
- Classification
- Fiber art, masks
- Collection
- Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
- Current Location
- Not on view
- Dimensions
- 11 x 9 13/16 x 13 3/4 in. (28 x 25 x 35 cm)
- Credit Line
- Museum Purchase
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Object Number
- 37:2001
NOTES
An artist created this object using distinct materials. It consists of an armature over which the artist stretched cloth made of coconut-palm fibers and then coated it with a paste-like layer. This compound was made by kneading together various plant matter, including the viscous juice from a vine that emulsified the mixture. Once dry, the plaster-like surface was painted with vibrant colors.
Masks such as this are specific to Ambrym Island. This mask belonged to a men’s society which determines the position and political power of each man in a community.
Provenance
- c.1996
Private Collection
c.1996 -
Private Collection, purchased at Hotel Drouot Auction, Paris, France
c.1997 - 2001
Galerie Meyer (Anthony J.P. Meyer), Paris, France
2001 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from Galerie Meyer Oceanic Art (Anthony J.P. Meyer) [1]
Notes:
The source for this information is a letter from The Art Loss Register, Inc. dated June 27, 2001 [SLAM document files], exceptions as noted:
[1] An invoice dated January 6, 2001 from Galerie Meyer Oceanic Art (Anthony J. P. Meyer) to the Saint Louis Art Museum documents the purchase of this object, listed as "an extremely rare form of rom mask possibly representing an animal, insect, or marine-life form. Northern or Western Ambrym Island. Vegetable matter, banana fiber, cane marrow, and pigments" [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Collections Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, May 24, 2001.
Private Collection
c.1996 -
Private Collection, purchased at Hotel Drouot Auction, Paris, France
c.1997 - 2001
Galerie Meyer (Anthony J.P. Meyer), Paris, France
2001 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from Galerie Meyer Oceanic Art (Anthony J.P. Meyer) [1]
Notes:
The source for this information is a letter from The Art Loss Register, Inc. dated June 27, 2001 [SLAM document files], exceptions as noted:
[1] An invoice dated January 6, 2001 from Galerie Meyer Oceanic Art (Anthony J. P. Meyer) to the Saint Louis Art Museum documents the purchase of this object, listed as "an extremely rare form of rom mask possibly representing an animal, insect, or marine-life form. Northern or Western Ambrym Island. Vegetable matter, banana fiber, cane marrow, and pigments" [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Collections Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, May 24, 2001.
We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.