Can anyone tell me something about this Tiki? - Collecting Tiki

S Sneakytiki Tiki Socialite Boise, Idaho Joined: Mar 31, 2003 Posts: 1795	S Sneakytiki Posted posted on Sun, Sep 9, 2007 10:17 PM Despite the disappointment in the "Guamanian" mask being Mexican made I think it is a killer mask and have unsuccessfully bid on some similar ones on ebay. It is indeed of a higher quality than many masks from Mexico and the style is somewhat different. I have a theory that although the carvers were the same carvers as those of the diablo masks, that these masks WERE inspired by tiki from the S. Pac. just as American Pop tiki souvenirs were. Just to add another nail in the coffin of the idea that this is a legitimate traditional islander mask, I have studied traditional S. Pacific and other non-Western Indigenous material cultures fairly extensively and can assure you that there is NO tradition of mask making in any Polynesian or Micronesian cultural group ( excluding one island in Micronesia). Melanesian yes, Indonesian yes. Guam has NO mask making tradition. All "tiki" masks are therefore "pop" tiki and not traditional forms. PS To clarify: Guam is considered a part of the Micronesian cultural group. ST To drown sorrow, where should one jump first and best? "Certainly not water. Water rusts you." -Frank Sinatra [ Edited by: Sneakytiki 2007-09-09 22:33 ]

Despite the disappointment in the "Guamanian" mask being Mexican made I think it is a killer mask and have unsuccessfully bid on some similar ones on ebay. It is indeed of a higher quality than many masks from Mexico and the style is somewhat different. I have a theory that although the carvers were the same carvers as those of the diablo masks, that these masks WERE inspired by tiki from the S. Pac. just as American Pop tiki souvenirs were.

Just to add another nail in the coffin of the idea that this is a legitimate traditional islander mask, I have studied traditional S. Pacific and other non-Western Indigenous material cultures fairly extensively and can assure you that there is NO tradition of mask making in any Polynesian or Micronesian cultural group ( excluding one island in Micronesia). Melanesian yes, Indonesian yes. Guam has NO mask making tradition. All "tiki" masks are therefore "pop" tiki and not traditional forms.

PS
To clarify: Guam is considered a part of the Micronesian cultural group.

To drown sorrow, where should one jump first and best? "Certainly not water. Water rusts you." -Frank Sinatra

[ Edited by: Sneakytiki 2007-09-09 22:33 ]

Post #331468 by Sneakytiki on Sun, Sep 9, 2007 10:17 PM