Amulet Mask Carvings

Seldom on view, but a true treasure among AMUM collections, are eleven miniature amulet masks. They are carved from a galip nut, which comes from the Canarium tree indigenous to the Sepik River region in Papua New Guinea. By incorporating the natural form of the nuts into the carvings, the artist has imbued each amulet with a unique sense of personality. White beads, used as eyes, stare intensely at you, and cassowary feathers paired with more beads form a headdress. While proper museum handling procedures prohibit me from learning if they do indeed offer luck and protection to its wearer, I can tell you that these amulets always leave me absolutely delighted!