ss:3233700
- Collection:
- Selections from the Cornell Anthropology Collections
- Donor:
- Victor Turner
- Date:
- 1950s
- Site:
- Mwinilunga, North-Western, Zambia (inhabited place)
- Location:
- Mwinilunga, North-Western, Zambia (inhabited place)
- Country:
- Zambia
- ID Number:
- Anthr1966_004_0016_01
- Old Catalog Number:
- 966.4.16
- File Name:
- Anthr1966_004_0016_01.jpg
- Culture:
- Ndembu
- Style/Period:
- Ndembu
- Work Type:
- masks (costume)
- Materials/Techniques:
- bark cloth
string
basketry (object genre)
pigments (probably clay) - Subject:
- ndembu (african people)
rites and ceremonies
masks
African
Turner, Victor W., 1920-1983
ritual objects - Measurement:
- 533.4 (from highest point to chin) (millimeters)
559 (from side to side at forehead) (millimeters)
219.4 (from side to side at mouth) (millimeters)
254 (forehead bulge) (millimeters)
88.9 (nose length) (millimeters)
102 (nose arc extension from face) (millimeters)
50.8 (eye length) x 25.4 (eye width) (millimeters)
118 (width of incised lines above eyes without curve) (millimeters)
62.5 (raise of bulb shaped pieces at cheeks) (millimeters)
38 (raise of mouth) (millimeters)
114 x 76.2 (outer circumference of mouth) (millimeters)
89 x 34.7 (inner circumference of mouth) (millimeters)
8 (depth of incised teeth within mouth) (millimeters) - Description:
- The mask is carved from one block of wood and is colored with charcoal. It is in the shape of a curved triangle. Four wave above the eyes and the eyes are carved out. All of the features are exaggerated and swollen looking. This mask is not specifically mentioned by Turner and it does not appear to have been a style that was worn. It is most likely one of the sacra objects used in the Mukanda ceremonies (circumcision rites) of the Ndembu tribe.
- Bibliography:
- Vistor Turner, The Forest of Symbols: Aspects of Ndembu Ritual (Cornell University Press, 1967)
- Archival Collection:
- Ndembu masks and costumes
- Format:
- Image
- Rights:
- The images in the Collection 'Selections from the Cornell Anthropology Collections' are protected by copyright, and the copyright holders are Cornell University Library and the Department of Anthropology. Physical artifacts from the Cornell Anthropology Collections were photographed by Cornell University Library in 2012-13 for inclusion in this image collection. Cornell is providing access to the materials for research and personal use. The written permission of any copyright and other rights holders is required for distribution, reproduction, or other use that extends beyond what is authorized by fair use and other statutory exemptions. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item and securing any necessary permissions ultimately rests with persons desiring to use the item.
Cornell would like to learn more about items in this collection and to hear from individuals or institutions that have any additional information. This collection is funded by an Arts and Sciences Grant to Frederic W. Gleach, Curator of the Anthropology Collections. Please contact him for more information about this collection, or to request permission to use these images.