Rare Mortlock Islands Mask: Bidding ends August 20, 2017

Bidding ends August 20, 2017 (Sunday) at 12pm (Hawaii time) - www.ebay.com/it...
Collected by a GI in the Pacific theater during WWII, this Mortlockese ancestral mask (or tapuanu) stands 11.75 inches tall.
This Tapuanu is a beautifully crafted and rare mask of light dry breadfruit wood, the elongated facial plane with delicately drawn geometrically shaped eyebrows and mouth are framed by a blackened beard.
Masks are rare in Micronesia - traditionally they are only found in the Mortlock group of islands. This classic and rare example painted white using lime and detailed with black using soot.
Such masks represented an ancestor. They were used as ornaments in the ceremonial house and sometimes in boat houses. The ceremonial house was the location of performances by members of a secret society, in which the god of wind was appeased to protect the breadfruit crops from hurricanes and storms. The ceremonies included dancing and feasting.
The Mortlock Islands (also known as the Nomoi Islands) are a group of three large atolls in the state of Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia. They consist of Satawan (not to be confused with Satawal), Etal, and Lukunor. They are located roughly 160 miles southeast of Chuuk.

[@davromartin]

Im quite impressed, you explained the history and geography very well and you also mentioned the original name of our islands NOMOI. To add to the meaning or use of this mask, ancient Mortlockese would use the masks to keep evil spirits and demons away. The name itself Tapuanu comes from the word Anu which in Moftlockese means ghost, monster or spirit.
Ps - The people singing in the background in the video are my aunties uncles, cousins and grandparents hehehe. Thank you for sharing!