Mask (Dagak)
- Culture
- Kanak artist
- Date
- 19th–20th century
- Material
- Wood, resin
- from
- New Caledonia, France, Oceania
- Classification
- Costume & clothing, masks
- Collection
- Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
- Current Location
- On View, Gallery 106
- Dimensions
- 22 1/16 x 5 7/8 x 5 1/8 in. (56 x 15 x 13 cm)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Morton D. May
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Object Number
- 75:1977
NOTES
A deep sheen accentuates the dynamic, fluid volumes of this mask. The substance creating this shiny surface was obtained by heating a resin from a coniferous tree mixed with vegetal oil, yielding a pitch used to coat a finished sculpture.
This mask originated from the north of New Caledonia’s main island, Grande Terre. It would have appeared at the end of funerary ceremonies celebrating the grand chiefs of the community. This performance symbolized the chief’s procession to the land of the dead. At some point in its history, this mask’s hair and feather attachments were removed.
This mask originated from the north of New Caledonia’s main island, Grande Terre. It would have appeared at the end of funerary ceremonies celebrating the grand chiefs of the community. This performance symbolized the chief’s procession to the land of the dead. At some point in its history, this mask’s hair and feather attachments were removed.
Provenance
- 1973
Maurice Bonnefoy (1920-1999), Paris, France
1973 - 1977
Morton D. May (1914-1983), St. Louis, MO, USA, purchased from Maurice Bonnefoy [1]
1977 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Morton D. May [2]
Notes:
[1] An invoice dated October 23, 1973 from Maurice Bonnefoy to Morton D. May documents the purchase of this object, listed as "#2457 / Mask with hooked nose; wood, dark brown patina. North New Caledonia" [May Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum].
[2] A letter dated March 1, 1977 from Morton D. May to James N. Wood, director of the Saint Louis Art Museum, includes the offer of this object as part of a larger donation [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Acquisitions Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, April 14, 1977.
Maurice Bonnefoy (1920-1999), Paris, France
1973 - 1977
Morton D. May (1914-1983), St. Louis, MO, USA, purchased from Maurice Bonnefoy [1]
1977 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Morton D. May [2]
Notes:
[1] An invoice dated October 23, 1973 from Maurice Bonnefoy to Morton D. May documents the purchase of this object, listed as "#2457 / Mask with hooked nose; wood, dark brown patina. North New Caledonia" [May Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum].
[2] A letter dated March 1, 1977 from Morton D. May to James N. Wood, director of the Saint Louis Art Museum, includes the offer of this object as part of a larger donation [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Acquisitions Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, April 14, 1977.
We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.