SOUTH VENEZUELA

Details

TWO PIAROA DANCE COSTUMES
South Venezuela
Of modelled fibre, one of conical form painted dark brown and white, the stylised face with white scrolls about the eyes and white dots on a dark brown ground, long red macaw feathers inserted in an aperture at the top, with woven rattan rattle; the other modelled as a stylised peccary, of flat oval form the snout modelled as a small face with glass inlaid eyes, painted dark brown and cream, each with long raffia fringe
14cm. high and 26cm. long respectively without fringe and feathers (2)

Exhibited

Rennes, Maison de Culture, Les Masques et leurs Fonction, 1980

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Lot Essay

Cf. Braun, B. (Ed.), Arts of the Amazon, London, 1995, p.91, fig.135, for a costume similar to the first called ime, and pp.56 and 57 for three masks similar to the second, said to represent marmosets and a vampire bat.

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