Description:

Oceania, Papua New Guinea, Middle Sepik River region, ca. mid-20th century CE. A hand-carved wooden flute stopper in the form of a highly-stylized bird painted with faded red and white pigment. The stopper has a thick plug on the bottom from which stems the body of a standing bird-face-masked anthropomorphic figure with shell eyes and tufts of coarse hair projecting from the forehead. The bird has a short body with folded wings and retracted legs, a thick neck, applied shell eyes, and an enormous aquiline beak. Flute stoppers like this example were meant to seal the ends of sacred flutes which were played only during important ceremonies. Size: 1.875" W x 15.625" H (4.8 cm x 39.7 cm); 16" H (40.6 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection

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#141637

  • Condition: Minor abrasions to both figures and stopper end, with fading to original pigmentation, light encrustations, and a few stable fissures, otherwise intact and very good. Light earthen deposits and nice patina throughout.

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April 25, 2019 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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