Description:

Papua New Guinea, East Sepik River region, Iatmul culture, 20th century. This Mei mask created by the Iatmul culture has a graceful yet powerful S-curve form. The long, narrow visage is further delineated with relief eyebrows and nose with tusk-like shells at the sides extending into a long beak that culminates in a pig's head. The face is framed with human hair attachments at the top and tusk-like shells at the sides. Stylized patterns painted in black, brown, and cream pigment add drama and expression. The eyes of both the mask and pig's head have shell inlays. Mei masks like this example possess great spiritual significance. In Papua New Guinea only men wear masks and these men must have been initiated into the cult that created the mask. Masks are hidden from women when they are not in use and maintained by secret societies. When a mask is worn, the initiate assumes the spirit or tumbuwan that the mask represents. 25 3/4"L

Provenance: Ex-Robert Pearson Collection, Denver, CO; Ex-Arte Primitivo; Ex-Dr. John E. Frost Collection, Houston, TX

All items in this auction are legal to buy/sell under U.S. statute covering cultural patrimony per United States Code 2600, CHAPTER 14 -- CONVENTION ON CULTURAL PROPERTY, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

  • Condition: Some paint loss; most examples have major losses due to the fragile nature of the clay foundation, but this mask is in relatively fine condition.

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Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

April 16, 2014 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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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 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000