Piaroa Kohue Mask


Collection

Dan Przybylski Collection


Identifier

PR29


Artist

unknown


Description

Made by the Piaroa people of the Orinoco River Basin region of Venezuela, this mask represents an animal spirit, specifically the Kohue (vampire bat). The mask is worn during the warime ceremony, a festival that includes a purification ritual in which masqueraders represent animal spirits and proclaim their deeds of the year to the tribe, good and bad, to seek respectively praise or forgiveness. Painted in black and white, this mask is made from carved wood with a bark cloth that acts as a shroud.


Medium

mixed media

Width

10in

Height

25in

Length

8in

Where Made (Region)

Orinoco River Basin

Where Made (Country)

Venezuela

How Acquired

Donation

When Acquired

Oct 10 2018

Name of Donor

Austin Friends of Folk Art