Papua New Guinea

Mask Papua New Guinea Mwai Seve Village Mask

Mask Papua New Guinea Mwai Seve Village Mask
Mask Papua New Guinea Mwai Seve Village Mask
Mask Papua New Guinea Mwai Seve Village Mask
Mask Papua New Guinea Mwai Seve Village Mask

Mask Papua New Guinea Mwai Seve Village Mask

Mai (or mwai) masks, represented as pairs of mythical brothers and sisters, are the teachers in the young men's initiation ceremonies. Mai masks represent the spirits of totemic names. Names are very sacred in PNG.

No one actually says anyone's real name, including their own, for fear of drawing the attention of bad spirits or sorcerers. During initiations, the elder who wears the mai mask becomes a spirit teacher who may say the important totemic names without evoking personal risk. He tells and calls out names for use in magic, for healing and for other spiritual uses. These names number in the thousands and only powerful men have this knowledge.

AT BACARA WE STAND BEHIND ALL OF OUR MERCHANDISE. YOUR SATISFACTION IS OUR MAIN GOAL, AND WE THANK YOU FOR SHOPPING AT BACARA. This item is in the category "Antiques\Ethnographic\Pacific Islands & Oceania". The seller is "bacara-online" and is located in this country: US.

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  • Color: Multi-Color
  • Style: Pacific Islands & Oceania
  • Material: Wood
  • Original/Reproduction: Original


Mask Papua New Guinea Mwai Seve Village Mask