Producer unknown to us
Mask Outfit
Americas, Colombia, Vaupés Department, Rio Cuduyari
First half of the 20th century
Natural fibers; sewn, painted
Context of acquisition unknown to us
Handed over to the museum by Museum für Vorgeschichte Halle/Saale in 1953
SAm 20031
Masks such as this one were used in funeral ceremonies by the Kobéua and Káua communities in Colombia, South America. For these ceremonial dances, male members of the communities spent several days crafting knee-length mask garments from bast fibers, which they painted with natural pigments made from soot and clay. Various patterns and symbols were applied to the fabric depending on their purpose. The dances primarily consisted of animal and demon performances, mimicking the characteristics of these beings. For example, the alligator dance reenacted the hunt and processing of the animal's meat. Demon dances were intended to appease the spirit of the deceased and to keep away demons believed to be responsible for death. These dances were combined with fertility rituals to ensure a successful harvest and hunt. The dances, accompanied by chants, were exclusively performed by male community members.
This mask was transferred to the museum in 1953 as part of the East German ”museum profiling” initiative from what is now the Museum für Vorgeschichte Halle/Saale. No further documentation regarding its collection context is available. ”Museum profiling,” which began in the 1950s, sought to restructure the museum landscape by creating specialized institutions. Its aim was to concentrate expertise in preserving and presenting topical specialty collections, leading museums to exchange their holdings to emphasize unique collections.
Anna Schumann, Stefanie Bach