Placed on a pedestal in the centre of the case is a mask in the shape of a crocodile’s head. Turtle shell is moulded into an upper and lower jaw of a pointed snout and attached to a wooden frame. Rough matchsticks of timber are stuck into the upper and lower jaws to form teeth and make the mask look fierce. A thick thatch of small grey and white feathers, shells and fabric form a band over the forehead, down the cheeks to a beard under the lower jaw. Coconut fibre is used to construct short tails to hang from the point of the lower jaw and thicker tails on the back of the mask. Two 40cm pieces of bamboo extend upward from the sides of the head and are tied together to form a triangle. White pigeon feathers are used to decorate the triangle. The mask is over a metre long and a sketch has been placed beside the mask.
To the left of the mask are the shell and skeleton of a green sea turtle. The skeleton is standing on its back legs to show the bones from the underside of its body. Lying on the base of the case is a very large turtle shell – it is dark brown with mustard yellow veins and markings.
Beside the turtle shell is another turtle shell mask. This mask is made of black shell, shaped like a human face with a broad forehead. Built around the head, with the head as the sternum, is a rib-like structure and each rib looks to be formed out of a saw blade. The eyes are outlined in orange ochre pigment and the ribs are painted in the same colour. It is topped with a human hair wig and decorated with cassowary feathers and goa nuts.
On the left side of the case, secured to the back wall, is a harvest mask. It is made of wood shaped into a 71cm tall oval and is topped with dreadlocked/matted human hair. The outer perimeter of the face, including the ears with extended lobes, is painted with a tan pigment. A black strip covers the eyes and outlines the chin. Cream pigment is used from the forehead to the chin. A dark brown colour is used on the long, pointed nose and on the lips. The eyes are made of pearl shell and dot painting and beads are used to decorate the mask.
To the right of the main mask is a delicate bamboo and feather headress. Three fine, plaited lengths of plant fibre line a bamboo arch. Within the arch, two “M” shapes in the same plant fibre are attached to the sides of the arch and secured to the top by a centre pillar. White feathers frame the arch with the tops of the feathers neatly trimmed. A tall brown feather extends from the apex of the arch. Perched nearby is a Torres Strait pigeon. It is a medium sized bird with a yellow beak. Feathers on its body are white and it has black feathers on its wing and tail. Its feathers were used in this headress.
In front of the bamboo and feather mask are two long arrows. The shaft of the arrow is made of a 130cm reed with a 15cm wooden section attached on the top carved to resemble human heads. The arrow heads are similar to a fine stiletto blade. Towards the front of the case are four human figures made of ochred plant fibre. Each is standing and holds a stick weapon – either a spear or a club. They are 22cm tall and made of strands of plant fibre wound together and finished with a pith head and turtle shell ears.Two large purple butterflies are set at the front at the centre of the display case.