Description:

Oceania, New Ireland, Libba village, ca. mid 20th century CE. A fascinating, dramatic bark mask with two dramatic black sides, each painted with red-rimmed eyes and white dots in vertical stripes down the two sides. A tall, knife-edge crest rises above the short, square nose, symbolically dividing the face in two. Moss adorns the upper part, serving as "hair". Raffia hangs from the lower part of the mask, which also features a cloth covering over its back to hide the back of the head when worn. Long curved reeds project backward from the top of the mask and the eyes on either side. Size (not including raffia): 26" W x 17" H (66 cm x 43.2 cm); 27" H (68.6 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private southern California, USA collection, acquired in the 1970s to mid 1980s

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#147504

  • Condition: Light wear commensurate with age including some staining to the fabric and a few small weathered fissures in the wood. Rich deposits on all surfaces. Form and materials are very well preserved.

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May 7, 2020 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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