Vanuatu mask; Malekula Island, 20th century.

Vanuatu mask; Malekula Island, 20th century.
Wood, clay, fibers, pigments.
Publication: Masker nieuwe hebriden in hart en aardewerk Visie en passie (vision and passion) Emiel Veranneman 2002 p. 34-35.
Provenance: Pierre Langlois (1927 - 2015), France. Emiel Veranneman (1924 - 2003), Belgium and by descent Anne Veranneman.
Measurements: 97 cm.
Vanuatu mask made of wood, natural fibers and pigments. The piece has a figurative finish with an ovoid face decorated with geometric motifs and two black birds in the lower area. The work not only has painted ornamentation, but also a relief modeling of the contour of the face and the nose and eyes with a prominent and bulging finish can be appreciated.
Vanuatu's culture retains a strong diversity through local regional variations and foreign influence. Vanuatu was first inhabited by people from Melanesia. The first Europeans to visit the islands were a Spanish expedition led by Portuguese navigator Fernandes de Queiros, who reached the largest island, Espiritu Santo, in 1606.