Description:

Oceania, Papua New Guinea, Sepik River region, ca. early to mid 20th century CE. A fascinating hand-carved wooden panel with a symmetrical, openwork form of four bird heads, each facing outward and with their beaks touching the beak of the bird below / above them. Their long necks and abstract bodies flow together, forming a shield-like panel. In the traditional lifestyle along the huge Sepik River, people live in matrilineal clans, which are called "ghu." Each ghu has a set of totem animals and plants, with birds and fish or other marine animals being the most important. These long-beaked, heron-like birds, all totemic, are painted red, white, black, and ocher-yellow. Size: 13.85" W x 27.75" H (35.2 cm x 70.5 cm); 28.85" H (73.3 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: ex-private Tucson, Arizona, USA collection; ex-Ron Perry collection; Ron Perry collected art and artifacts for more than 40 years in New Guinea and the South Pacific. He collaborated with Carolyn Leigh to write a book entitled, "Art Dealer in the Last Unknown: Ron Perry & New Guinea Art: the early years 1964-1972" (2011)

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#130017

  • Condition: Surface wear commensurate with age, with some wear to the pigment and small surface cracks.

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March 1, 2018 7:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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