Description:

Oceania, Papua New Guinea, Sepik River region, ca. 20th century CE. A massive wooden mask depicting an ancestral face spirit, deeply carved with bold ovoids, flowing curvilinear motifs, and raised nodules that recall the armored skin of a crocodile. The penetrating eyes are inset with large shell whorl cross-sections that heighten the mesmerizing gaze, while the pierced ears retain twisted vegetal fiber cords. The brow is drilled with a large suspension hole, through which a fiber cord is threaded - augmented with a later-added metal wire for support. The entire form conveys powerful presence, with its scale and surface detail evoking the strength and protection of ancestral forces. Size: 17" W x 40" H (43.2 cm x 101.6 cm)

Provenance: ex-Stein collection, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, USA, acquired prior to 2010

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

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#195687

  • Condition: Loss to mouth and missing a protruding spike on right cheek. Abrasions and chips to a few other high pointed areas, but otherwise stable and good condition. Fading to painted pigments with some discoloration and stains.

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Shipping

Bidder Can Make Shipping Arrangements, Local Pick-Up, In-House Shipping

September 4, 2025 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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