The Tapirapé live on the river of the same name (Rio Tapirapé) in central Brazil, west of the large Rio Arauiaia. They are a very small tribe, yet they ‘invented’ the largest masks of the forestland Indians of South America: the type of the large, semicircular face mask ‘Cara Grande’, also called ‘Upé-mask’. These ‘Cara Grande’ masks consist of a wooden board, on which the coloured birds’ feathers are glued to create a large, stylised face. Formerly, the Tapirapé mainly used the blue and red feathers of the Ara parrot, yet for the detailed feather mosaic they also used feathers of other birds. These ‘Cara Grande’ masks were produced in mens’ houses and ‘danced with’ during feasts in the dry season. Each ‘Cara Grande’ mas has a name, but it may not be spoken aloud. Generally it is the name of a killed Karajá warrior. The far more numerous Karajá live near the Rio Araguaia and are neighbours of the Tapirapé. Since time immemorial, the Tapirapé and the Karajá have been enemies and do battle with each other. Therefore the Tapirapé never speak the name of a ‘Cara Grande’ mask out loud, in order not to provoke or insult the dangerous Karajá. The present ‘Cara Grande’ consists of a semicircular wooden board, trimmed with layers of rattan stripes. Into this, the outer wreath of many blue Ara feathers is worked in, with a few red Ara tail feathers in the middle at the top, as a sort of ‘antenna’. The free-standing feathers are held in position with white cotton cords. The feather mosaic in the mask face consists of small, turquoise blue, red and yellow feathers. For the eyes and both ear studs, specially fitted mother of pearl from freshwater pearls was used. This ‘Cara Grande’ mask bears a visible patina and traces of daily use. It actually ‘danced’ because, since the late 1960s, the Tapirapé have ‘produced’ this type of mask also for tourists and the ethno-trade. But these later souvenir masks are much more colourful. Since there are not so many Ara parrots in the territory of the Tapirapé anymore, they must resort to feathers of other birds. Based on information from the consignor, this ‘Cara Grande’ mask was collected directly from the Tapirapé in the late 1950s or early 1960s. Before the arrival of the first tourists. Via the Galerie Lemaire in Amsterdam, the piece was later purchased by the current owner. The consignor himself mounted this mask in a box frame behind glass. Dimensions: 86 cm x 86 cm (the mask alone); 100 cm x 100 cm x 12 cm (the box frame). (ME)

Provenance: Private Collection, Brussels.

Lit.: ‘Federarbeiten der Indianer Südamerikas’ by Gisela Völger & Ursula Dyckerhoff, Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum, Cologne; text p. 330, 331; fig. 200, 201.

additional image:
TAPIRAPÉ-INDIANS with a typical “Cara Grande Mask”. Photo: M. Baldi
Photo from: “Federarbeiten der Indianer Südamerikas“ by Gisela Völker und Ursula Dyckerhoff