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Vintage Yucuna-Matapí Colombian Amazon Ceremonial Bark Cloth Dance Mask
Offered is a remarkable vintage ceremonial dance mask attributed to theYucuna-Matapí peoples of the Colombian Amazon. Constructed from stitched bark cloth with an attached hand-painted carved wood face panel and raffia/palm-fiber headdress, this piece closely resembles documented examples preserved in Colombian museum collections associated with Yucuna-Matapí ceremonial traditions.
The striking geometric face features concentric circles, dotted borders, triangular motifs, repeated circular elements, and bold black, white, and ochre pigments. The elongated bark-cloth garment and attached face panel were designed to be worn during ceremonial dances, with an opening at the back allowing the wearer to place the costume over the head.
The attribution is based on close comparison with published museum examples. Because no original provenance accompanies this piece, it is offered asattributed to the Yucuna-Matapí tradition rather than definitively identified.
Approximate Measurements
- Bark cloth body:23½ inches long
- Attached natural fiber/raffia:approximately 21 inches
- Overall length:approximately 44½ inches
- Width at top:2 inches
- Width at bottom:10 inches
Materials
- Bark cloth
- Lightweight carved wood face panel (believed to be balsa or similar softwood)
- Hand-applied black, white, and ochre pigments
- Natural fiber stitching
- Raffia/palm fiber
Condition
This is an authentic vintage ethnographic object and displays age and handling wear consistent with its materials.
Please review all photographs carefully.
Condition includes:
- Significant cracking and losses along the right side of the painted face panel.
- Areas of lifting, splitting, and crumbling of the painted wood, particularly on the right edge.
- Surface paint wear, age-related cracking, and scattered losses.
- Bark cloth exhibits creasing, wrinkles, thinning, edge wear, and age discoloration.
- Natural fiber headdress shows expected age-related wear and some broken strands.
- Rear opening and original stitched construction remain intact.
Due to the fragile nature of the painted face panel, this piece should be handled carefully and is being sold in its present condition.
Why Collectors Appreciate These
Ceremonial bark-cloth masks from the Colombian Amazon are considerably less common on today's market than African or Oceanic masks. Pieces attributed to the Yucuna-Matapí peoples represent Indigenous artistic traditions of the Amazon Basin, where bark cloth, carved wood, and natural pigments were combined to create ceremonial costumes used in commun
