Tribal

Masks
 Starting
 During the late Qing Dynasty (1644-
1911), Chinese medical scientists Wu
Liande invented a mask made of two
layers of gauze called “Wu’s mask” in
response to a plague in Northeast China
 Types
 Masks can be grouped into three types
1. Face masks
2. Helmet masks
3. Headresses
The face mask is the most common form and usually
curves over the masker’s face, stopping right before
years
 Information

Traditional tribal masks play an
important role in ceremonies and
rituals across west, central and
southern Africa
 History
 The use of masks dates back several
millennia . It is conjectured that the first
masks may have been used by primitive
people to associate the wearer with some
kind of unimpeachable authority, such as a
deity, or to otherwise lend credence to the
person’s claim on a given social role
 Making
 African masks are considered to be one of
the most admired and well known art-
forms of Africa . Materials used in making
these masks are Wood, Copper, Iron,
Bronze, Brass, etc. The main material used
for building it is wood
 Use
 Masks are very important during ceremonies as
they are used to entertain people . The masks
make the dance look more exciting , and plays
a major role in deciding the interest of
audience . The mask wearer becomes a
medium of dialogues between the community
and the spirits
 Identification
 If the mask is predominantly wood, the
patina of the surface can be an indicator of
authenticity, particularly in the reverse of
the mask . A less polished and slightly
uneven surface on the reverse of a mask is
often observed in older traditional masks
 Indian History
 Even today, the dance dramas continue to be
stories from the Mahabharata, Ramayana and
Puranas, giving masks a ritualistic function. The
famous Chhau dance originated in the Purulia
district of West Bengal. The word Chhau means
‘Chhaya’(mask or shadows)according to ancient
Sanskrit texts
 Photos

Panjurli Panjurli Panjurli with

Mask Boar Mask Naga Adornment
THANK
YOU! - Rishi
- Ishan
- Kush