Description:

Oceania, Papua New Guinea, Ramu or Sepik River, ca. early 20th century CE. An ancestor mask from the coastal Sepik or Lower Ramu River region, hand-carved from a single piece of wood with a long, narrow ovoid form and pierced eyes. The stylized face has a deeply arched brow ridge creating an intense, deep-set gaze. A sharply protruding nose with looped carving allows for the suspension of ornaments, and a subtly upturned mouth is framed by incised lines extending toward the cheeks and chin. The perimeter of the face is bordered by a notched ridge that lends further texture and visual impact. Worn or displayed during ritual and ceremonial practices, masks like this served to channel spirits, honor the dead, and support social control in communities such as the Ramu and Murik peoples. Size: 17.5" L x 8" W (44.4 cm x 20.3 cm); 21" H (53.3 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA; acquired from Taylor Dale (TAD) Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA.

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.

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#196360

  • Condition: Chips and abrasions throughout, with dark, sooty patina. Old inventory number etched into interior surface.

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August 22, 2025 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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