CATALOG
of Authentic Indonesian Primitive and Ethnic Art
Body Masks
"JIPAE" Asmat Ceremonial Body Masks
"Jipae" The Asmat Ceremonial Body Mask
From the Asmat tribe of Irian Jaya (West New Guinea),Indonesia.
This body mask is worn during the "Jipae" Feast,
a celebration of the passage of the dead from the world of people
to the world of the spirits.
They also call it "Baju Setan" ( Ghost Armor).
During a "Jipae" ceremony, the close relative of the deceased
will wear it to symbolize the spirit or ghost of the dead and
parades through the village while the children and
women throw rocks presenting the act of the chasing
and sending the ghost to the spirit world.
The body mask is made from the bark of "Fum" wood,
dried then slowly hand woven into a rope. Only "Fum" rope
may be used for making the rope mask.
The mask is used only one time for the "Jipae" Feast, during the ceremony.
Decorated with sago fibers, cassowarry nose ornament and feathers on top.
The colors of the mask are, white from crushed shells, and
brown from red ocher river mud.
