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French Polynesia 2020 – 100 francs

REGION: Oceania
COUNTRY: French Polynesia—Tahiti (French overseas territory)
YEAR PRINTED: 2020
VALUE: 100 CFP francs

This stamp celebrates a mask of the Polynesian people inhabiting the Tahitian islands, a French overseas territory. This type comes from the Mangarevan people who inhabit the island of Hikueru in the Tuamotu archipelago. This specific mask was collected by a French historian around 1900 and is exhibited in the Museum of Tahiti and the Islands in Papeete. It is made of coconut tree wood and would have been worn by orators relating stories about the King of the Sea, Tutepoganui, whom the mask is thought to represent.

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New Caledonia (France) 1973 – 12 francs

REGION: Oceania
COUNTRY: New Caledonia (French overseas territory)
YEAR PRINTED: 1973
VALUE: 12 CFP francs

This stamp celebrates the Tchamba mask and costume used in the ceremonies of the Melanesian people of New Caledonia. New Caledonia is a southern Pacific island under French sovereignty, classified as an overseas territory. This specific assemblage is reproduced from one exhibited in the Museum of Noumea, the capital of New Caledonia.

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Paper Carnival Mask

TITLE: Paper Carnival Mask
TYPE: face mask
GENERAL REGION: Europe
COUNTRY: France
SUBREGION: N/A
ETHNICITY: French
DESCRIPTION: Carnival character mask
CATALOG ID: EUFR001
MAKER: Unknown
CEREMONY: Carnival
AGE: ca. 1930s
MAIN MATERIAL: kraft paper
OTHER MATERIALS: paint; copper wire; human hair

During the 1930s in Europe, sluggish economies created demand for inexpensive versions of traditional Carnival masks that had previously been made from wood or thick paper maché. Enterprising companies began making disposable masks from cheaper kraft paper, hand painted by the abundant labor available due to high unemployment. This mask originates in France and represents a clown-like character. The toothbrush mustache originated in United States around 1900 and spread to Europe, where it remained popular until early 1940s.

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