Photographs © Tim Hamill

BAGA / NALU
BANDA MASK 13
29" high x 7" wide x 6.5" deep
$150

Despite its appearance we believe this mask was probably made to be sold. Note the size: It is much smaller than Nalu masks 1-9.

Masks like these large, horizontally worn masks, Banda, were used by the nearby and closely related Nalu people. The masks blend features of crocodiles, antelopes, sharks and humans in a very complex, Baroque style. They symbolically guarded households, crops and even entire villages and appear in harvest ceremonies.