tumbuan

The tubuan mask is a cone-shaped ceremonial object made of cane and fiber, used by the Tolai people of New Britain. It features circular eyes and a crescent-shaped mouth painted on a dark background, often adorned with a short, leafy cape.1

Masks, in general, are used in ceremonies with religious and social significance, including funerary rites, fertility rituals, and healing practices. They can also appear in festive occasions, dramatic performances, and reenactments of mythological events. In some cultures, masks are used for warfare or as protective devices.2

The tubuan mask is associated with the Dukduk, a male secret society in New Britain. This society, along with the Iniet society, incorporated various art forms into their rituals, including masks, dance shields, and carved human figures. The Dukduk society used both male (dukduk) and female (tubuan) masks, with the tubuan being the female counterpart.1