Monday, November 19, 2007

Details of Fire Dance Mask




The Baining people were one of the original inhabitants of the Gazelle Peninsular. Several hundred years ago the Tolai (tol-eye) people from the south of New Ireland, who now make up two-thirds of this province’s population, invaded and drove the Baining people south into the mountains.

Each Fire Dance mask is different, and these are the details of the mask I bought. (See last post).

Sorry Dive I didn’t want to scare the cat so I didn’t put it on – maybe next Halloween!!!

28 comments:

dive said...

Jules, that is wonderful!
It must take so much work to make one of those.
The detailing is amazing … they've even managed to work a tiny dog into the design!

Anonymous said...

The detail is fantastic Jules and the photos of the previous post taken by Geoff are really good. Must be a very spectacular sight to see them dancing.

Tom said...

Stunning... but will not make any improment Jules... leave it to one side.. BTW Like Diva I noticed the dog.. any name for this fine hound?

• Eliane • said...

These masks are gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous!!!

Lavenderlady said...

It is absolutely beautiful!

Jules said...

Hi All

Dive & Tom - the dog in the mask is the dog in the hammock see -
http://rabauldailyphoto-jules.blogspot.com/2007/08/lets-sail-away.html
Her name is Lili - and she is a crazy, gorgeous village dog, German Shepherd and Australian Red Heeler cross - no wonder she is a lunatic!!!!

photowannabe said...

Beautiful artwork and great closeups.

Fabrizio Zanelli said...

I like those masks and I should like more to know reason of fire dance. Maybe just a veneration to the fire, or "the fire" like a sort of divinity... Or both.

quintarantino said...

Those are really nice photos letting us see each detail on those odd looking masks.

M.Benaut said...

Jules, you could just put on the mask to scare young Dive.... he's so young, he'd be easily scared !

M.Benaut said...

Jules, you could just put on the mask to scare young Dive.... he's so young, he'd be easily scared !

lv2scpbk said...

Wonderful. I guess they all have their own meanings. Is that right?

Jilly said...

All these photographs are spectacular!

Great pics and those taken by Dave.

Love your new mask.

Jilly said...

Oh goodness, I just noticed the dog. Lovely Lili.

and thanks for taking the Balzi Rossi tour - glad you left your heels at home!

Annie said...

I'm sure you honor this mask - so rich in tradition, a real link to a history of a people.

Thanks for answering my question on yesterday's post. I wondered.

Chuckeroon said...

I'm late on and it's all been said...but, lovely posting and a great dog! Weahter here's awful...over all Europe. Brrrr

Squirrel said...

wow--nice snaps!

Donna said...

I just want to know, When is the book coming out? You know, the book with all your photos in it? You should, you know!

Ann (MobayDP) said...

So...when they dance in the fire, how do they prevent the masks from catching on fire? :-o

Jules said...

Ann - the masks do get a little singed and mine has soot on it. i guess they move in and out so quickly it doesn't catch. maybe it has something to do with the tapa cloth - not sure??

m benaut - you are tempting me!! I might just have to put it on and dance on the gas stove - don't think the effect would be as good though!!!

donna - the book hmmm - it might be easier than trying to fight these prehistoric phone connections!!! Stay tuned. i actually have written a book - if you are interested I could send it to you - it is on pdf file - my mate Greg did it up for me so I could send it. Give me a yell if you'd like to read it.

fabrizio & barb - I will find out for you - I'm not sure!!!

Isadora said...

Certainly is an eye opener. :) and speaking of cats - my Ferko had an interesting reaction to my newly sewn hat. Took a look, pointed ears and ran off. Dear Abby - if my hat provokes such a reaction from a feline, should I dare wear it in public? Hell, yes - it's warm isn't it? :)

dr. filomena said...

How incredibly colourful and detailed! Impressive... thanks, Jules!

Donna said...

Jules- Sorry about all the downloading problems! I went back, in my settings, and discovered my post were set at 31 days allowed for post to show. I've changed that to 7 days, showing. Also, was it the sparkley picture you saw or the new Christmas I now have up? AND, heck yes I'd love to have a copy of the book!!

Marie said...

The photos are very pretty. They look like modern paintings.

Dan said...

Breath taking photos. The detail in these is wonderful. The craftmanship seems outstanding.

Neva said...

What detail on these...I am catching up...sorry for missing so many of your blogs....even the way you have to post. they are good as usual.

Anonymous said...

hello, I came upon your blog. I love the baining masks. Where can I get some from? my email is neilflobo@gmail.com
Awesome photographs as well

Anonymous said...

When I was living and working in Rabaul in 1994 (early in the year, before the volcanos erupted) I was lucky enough to sit and watch a Baining fire dance one night at a plantation. The dancers had been out in the bush for several days before the ceremony, getting high with some kind of natural substance they use in their culture there. Then during the dance they used these masks (and the scarier ones, the big "hairy" [grass] ones) and they leaped through the fire. Like another traditional dance I saw elsewhere in the Rabaul hinterlands (a funeral dance at a village) it has stayed with me as an unforgettable experience. No matter what the culture (including our own home culture) it is a profound experience to see someone who is truly, deeply immersed in and at one with their culture. Humans in that profoundly enculturated state seem as deeply at peace as the animals, I guess that's what it takes for the human animal to be truly secure and at peace.