Description:

Oceania, Papua New Guinea, Abelam tribe from the Maprik/Wosera area, ca. mid 20th century CE. A massive woven mask representing an ancestor, with a huge, avian-like nose curved into a hook form. The face has red around the eyes, then dark brown, on a creamy white background. The eyelids bulge outward, forming empty circles inside them that give the mask a haunting appearance. Ancestor images like this one are kept in the Haus Tambaran (an ancestor worship house with a steeply pointed roof) on special beds; they are worshiped there or appealed to for power during a ceremony. The Haus Tambaran is a specifically male space within the culture, and also relates to the yam cult that has developed around the staple crop of the people in this region. Size: 32" L x 15" W x 19" H (81.3 cm x 38.1 cm x 48.3 cm); 36" H (91.4 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection

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.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#133535

  • Condition: Small areas of loose weave and lost pigment, mainly at the edges, but generally in very good condition.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

June 21, 2018 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000