Loan (Exhibition)
Initial enquiry only
Event Date
Author: maa

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Context (Analysis)
Duplicate record noted the local name as "kral". This term has also been used on Card 1, but has been crossed out and replaced with "buk". The duplicate record also mis-transcribed the donor as "A.M. Gordon"
Event Date
Author: Rachel Hand

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Context (Acquisition Details)
Collected by:A.C. Haddon and donated by The Hon. Sir A.H. Gordon G.C.H.G.

Card 1: 'Stated to have been made by Gizu of Nagir and collected by A.C.H. in August 1888, though apparently donated to museum by Sir A.H.Gordon in 1890.'

Event Date 1890
Author: maa

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Context (References)
Reference on Card 1 to Haddon, A.C. (1912) Reports of the Cambridge Anthropological Expedition to Torres Straits. Vol. 4 : Arts and Crafts. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 301.
Event Date 1912
Author: rachel hand

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Context (References)
Moore 1984: 54, No, 142 notes ''Stated to have been made by Gizu of Nagir and collected by A.C. Haddon in August 1888, though apparently donated to Cambridge Museum by Sir A Gordon. 1890'.

Cf. DM 1890.355, Tutu, 1888 in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin [correct reference NMI AE:1890.355].

Moore's book is based upon research involving an examination of all Haddon material in British and Australian Museums.
Event Date 1984
Author: rachel hand

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Context (Display)
On display in the case Early Cambridge Anthroplogy, Case No. 7, Maudslay Hall from 1990- Oct 2011.


Event Date 1990
Author: Rachel Hand

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Description (CMS Description)
Card 1: 'Mask of turtleshell plates bound together, representing a crocodile head surmounted by a human face below which two arms and hands project. Behind face two vertical triangles, stated to be bege or bigai = clouds. Incised decoration and red and white painting. Fringe of cassowary feathers, goa nuts, and cowries. Originally incorporated fish tail.'
Card 2: 'A large MASK representing an alligator's head etc. Made of tortoise shell fringed with feathers, seeds etc. Torres Straits.'
A duplicate record, presumably based a third card for Z 9397, noted "Mask of turtle-shell representing a crocodile (kodal) above which is a human face with arms and hands." This card not located.
Event Date 3/11/1994
Author: maa

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Context (Amendments / updates)
Jude Philp noted this could be E 1890.182, as the description, maker and source are similar.
Event Date 25/3/1998
Author: rachel hand

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Context (Analysis)
The mask was temporarily removed for filming as part of the Griff Rhys Jones documentary, "Hidden Treasures of Australia, 1/11/2010, shown on BB2 25/2/2011.
Event Date 1/11/2010
Author: rachel hand

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Conservation (Surface Clean)
CON.2015.1584 | Surface Clean
Event Date 16/6/2015
Author: rah99

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Description (CMS Description)
Crocodile mask from Torres Strait.
Event Date 7/12/2016
Author: maa

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Context (Display)
‘Displayed in the Maudslay Gallery for the visit of award-winning artist Alick Tipoti and the ZUGUBAL dancers from Badu Island, Torres Strait on 17 June 2015. The dancers conducted a private ceremony to dance for the masks collected by AC Haddon before giving a public performance in the gallery. Guests included Margaret Rishbeth, Haddon's granddaughter (A. Herle).’

Exhibited: On display in the central Pacific plinth in the Maudslay Gallery for the ZUGUBAL dancers, from Badu Island, Torres Strait on the 17 June 2015, temporarily replacing the Malanagan masks. The ZUGUBAL dancers were led by Alick Tipoti, with Uncle Tommy, Laurie Nona, Patrick Tamway, Frank Nona, Joey Laifoo, and Tanu Nona with filmmaker Mau Power and manager Charles Street.

Plans for the visit were initiated by Tipoti in 2012 when he returned to Cambridge to research historic collections as a stimulus for his artistic practice. Tipoti was inspired to come back to MAA with the ZUGUBAL dancers to ‘re-connect with the artistry of their forefathers’ and dance for the masks.

In preparation for the event a temporary display of historic Torres Strait masks was installed in the Maudslay gallery. After a day researching Torres Strait material in MAA’s reserve collections, the dancers donned traditional-style costumes made by the artists and had a private performance in the gallery for the masks and the spirits of their ancestors. This was followed by a spectacular public performance. At the end of the event Curator Anita Herle and MAA were honoured by the presentation of the dhari headdress worn by Uncle Laurie Nona. Museum staff and members of the audience, including Margaret Rishbeth (Haddon’s granddaughter), were delighted to have the opportunity to meet with the Islanders. Museum staff hosted the ZUGUBAL dancers at a private pot-luck dinner in the Museum later that night and were treated to a private impromptu and informal performance.
Event Date 13/5/2016
Author: Rachel Hand

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Conservation (Remedial)
CON.2017.3729 | Remedial
Event Date 7/2/2017
Author: Kirstie Williams

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Description (Physical description)
The mask is made of carefully moulded pieces of turtle shell, decorated with cowries shells, goa nuts, casswary feathers, strands of calico and ochre. The arms outstretched arms are made of iron. The incised detailed are highlighted with lime. The mask refers to the story of Uberi Kuberi, where a man was eaten by a crocodile kept as a pet by his daughter. It was made by a man named Gizu and collected by Haddon on Nagir in August 1888. (Anita Herle)
Event Date 1/3/2017
Author: MAA Admin

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Loan (Exhibition)
Royal Academy of Arts, 14/09/2018 to 09/12/2018, Oceania
Event Date 14/9/2018
Author: rachel hand

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Context (References)
Herle, Anita and Philp, Jude (eds.) (2020) Recording kastom : Alfred Haddon's journals from the Torres Strait and New Guinea, 1888 and 1898. Sydney, NSW: Sydney University Press, p. 58, Fig. 1.2.
'Masks made of moulded plates of hawksbill turtle-shell each featuring a human face on top of. crocodile, recalling the ancient story of a man call[ed] Uberi Kuberi, who gets eaten by a crocodile kept as a pet by his daughter.'
Event Date 2020
Author: rachel hand

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Context (Analysis)
Filmed with Dr James Fox by Keo films for a BB2 programme provisionally titled Nature, Culture, Us. To be broadcast in Autumn to coincide with the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow on 1 – 12 November 2021.
Event Date 12/4/2021
Author: rachel hand

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Context (References)
Moore, D. (1984) The Torres Strait Collections of A.C. Haddon. London: British Museum Press, p. 54, No. 142, Plate 15.


Event Date 27/4/2021
Author: rachel hand