Lot 185
**Originally Listed At $250**
Oceania, Papua New Guinea, East Sepik, Southern Abelam people, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A finely handmade balsa wood mask with an abstract visage painted in hues of black, red, and brown. The round vizard presents a prominent widow's peak above straight brows, bulging eyes, a narrow nose with flared nostrils, and full, downward projecting lips. This was created for festivals surrounding the cherished yam, the crucial crop of the Abelam people of northeast Papua New Guinea. Masks like this example have traditionally been used to adorn the heads of huge tubers, rather than humans. Size: 4.8" W x 6.5" H (12.2 cm x 16.5 cm); 9.9" H (25.1 cm) on included custom stand.
Curious? Indeed, the Abelam cultivate massive yams in addition to the ordinary variety. These can be as much as 12 feet long. According to the curatorial department of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, "A mans social status is determined largely by his success in growing long yams. Each man has a permanent exchange partner to whom he ceremonially presents his largest yams following the annual harvest, later receiving those of his rival in return. Men who are consistently able to give their partners longer yams than they receive gain great prestige. Lavishly adorned for the presentation ceremony, the finest long yams are essentially transformed into human images, decorated in the manner of men in full ceremonial regalia."
Provenance: private Rochester, Michigan, USA collection
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#182663
- Condition: Indentation to proper right side of head, and chipping to raised areas like nose and lips. Some nicks and abrasions to surface as shown. Good remaining pigments.
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|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 + | $500 |