Mask (Buk, Krar, or Kara)
Unknown Artist
mid to late 19th century
Medium
Turtle shell, wood, cassowary feathers, fiber, resin, shell, paint
Dimensions
H. 21 1/2 x W. 25 x D. 22 3/4 in. (54.6 x 63.5 x 57.8 cm)
Classification
Costumes
Culture
Torres Strait Islander
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Purchase, Nelson A. Rockefeller Gift, 1967
Accession Number
1978.412.1510
Tags
Art Historical Context
This striking mask, known as a *buk*, *krar*, or *kara*, hails from the Torres Strait Islanders, the Indigenous peoples of the islands between Australia and Papua New. Crafted by an unknown artist in the- to late 19th, it exemplifies the rich tradition of ceremonial costumes in Torres Strait culture. Measuring about 21½ inches high, its robust form—fashioned from turtle shell, wood, cassary feathers, fiber, resin, shell, and paint—demonstrates masterful use of local materials, blending natural textures and vibrant colors to create a powerful, otherworldly presence. In Torres Strait Islander s...