Iatmul, Kararau village, Middle Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, 19th century
Hardwood, carved with stone tools
Height 15 inches (38.1 cm)
Provenance: Private collection, Australia; private collection, United States
The mask is carved from a single block of hardwood, hollowed at the back and rising to two projecting flanges at the crown, the grain opened along its length into deep vertical fissures from long exposure. The features survive as raised forms rather than as cut detail, a ridged nose running down the center with ringed eyes set to either side and the mouth almost entirely lost to erosion. Small holes remain along the lower edge where the mask was once attached, and the surface is a pale weathered grey brown throughout with no pigment or fiber remaining.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Iatmul, Kararau village, Middle Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, 19th century
Hardwood, carved with stone tools
Height 15 inches (38.1 cm)
Provenance: Private collection, Australia; private collection, United States
The mask is carved from a single block of hardwood, hollowed at the back and rising to two projecting flanges at the crown, the grain opened along its length into deep vertical fissures from long exposure. The features survive as raised forms rather than as cut detail, a ridged nose running down the center with ringed eyes set to either side and the mouth almost entirely lost to erosion. Small holes remain along the lower edge where the mask was once attached, and the surface is a pale weathered grey brown throughout with no pigment or fiber remaining.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
