Context (Display)
1891 Accessions Register reads: "A mask of hardwood: long bearded face used in Duk-Duk dances. Fly River New Guinea/ B. [for Bought] Gerard /Mus A.Fd. [Museum Acquisition Fund] book 1890 No. 25". noted by S-J Harknett 4/10/2004
Event Date 1891
Author: rachel hand

Context (Field collection)
The wood for the mask is likely to have been traded from New Guinea, probably down the Fly River. The mask is probably from Saibai.
Noted by A. Herle, 1994

Event Date 1994
Author: rachel hand

Context (CMS Context)
(bio) (collector) Collected by: Sir A.H. Gordon before 1890
(bio) (donor) Dr A.C. Haddon


Event Date 3/11/1994
Author: maa

Description (CMS Description)
Two catalogue cards for object. First reads: Mask of heavy wood represents a long bearded face used in the 'duk duk' dance.
Second card reads: Dance mask. Large, long, narrow mask with the hair in ringlets; shell eyes bordered with hair. Ears decorated with bunches of fibre. Prominent, thin, curved nose, nostrils perforated for wearer to see through. Mouth bordered by hair. Lower border with chevron design and two snakes. Projecting stick on chin decorated with bunch of cassowary feathers and 'unio' shell rattle.
Event Date 3/11/1994
Author: maa

Description (CMS Descriptions)
Description from (now deleted) duplicate record: 'Card 1: 'Mask of long face skilfully carved in light brown wood. Large nose cut in solid, pearl shell eyes with black gum iris, human hair in ringlets and round eyes and mouth. Stick with cassowary feathers and goa nuts projecting from chin. Zigzag incised decoration round chin. and jaw.'
Card 2: 'WOODEN MASK IN GLASS SHOW CASE'.
Event Date 12/12/2016
Author: Lucie Carreau

Description (Physical description)
Sides of the mask and open mouth are decorated with red ochre and the chin stick incorporates rattles made of univalve, ?mussel shells.
Event Date 3/6/2020
Author: rachel hand