Description:

Papua New Guinea, Sepik River region, ca. early to mid 20th century CE. A large wooden shield with an overall rectangular composition and finely-carved details. Central to the obverse side is an abstract depiction of a dual-ended creature with a mutual midsection. Each half of the creature has two arms with human-form hands, an elongated neck which forks into two multi-branched projections, and a lobed head with four upturned, tendril-like horns. The figure itself is outlined in black with accompanying red details atop a white ground. Abstract geometric designs adorn the peripheral edges of the shield, and two small drilled perforations have a desiccated strand of leather fed through for suspension. The verso is unadorned, smooth to the touch, with a light-brown patina enveloping the surface. Size: 10.25" W x 31.625" H (26 cm x 80.3 cm).

Provenance: private Healy collection, Studio City, California, USA, acquired over the last twenty years

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#129795

  • Condition: Age-commensurate surface wear, chips, and areas of roughness to peripheries and interior details, hairline fissures along top and bottom, fading to applied pigmentation, with light earthen and mineral deposits throughout.

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May 14, 2020 10:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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