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Lot 152
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Papua New Guinea Sepik Wood, Bamboo & Bark Skull Rack
Papua New Guinea Sepik Wood, Bamboo & Bark Skull Rack
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Description:

Oceania, Papua New Guinea, Sepik River region, ca. early to mid-20th century. This is a feature that most households should have: a skull rack (sawos) made from bark or palm spathe and wood panels lashed over a cane and bamboo framework with vertical spikes. At the center is a thick wooded visage, dramatic and fierce with matching faces painted to the sides on the spathe panels, held together with cane stitching and woven cords. The brow of the wood face is covered in a red clay and cowrie shells and human hair are pressed into the surface and cut shell spirals are inlaid into the eye sockets. The spikes were used for keeping the skulls of slain enemies, ancestors, and warriors on display in a special building, the spirit house, where initiated men held activities, ceremonies, and meetings. The wood and painted faces are symbolic ancestors to ensure luck and prosperity to hunting or raiding parties and by displaying skulls the men gained insight and supernatural. Size: 51" L x 4" W x 31" H (129.5 cm x 10.2 cm x 78.7 cm)

The placement of the skull could indicate the importance of the individual and connection to the men, a skill in the window may be a respected ancestor, while a skull at the top of a building gable may indicate an enemy and act as a warning.

For a similar example, please see the Brooklyn Museum's website, accession number: 86.229.20.

Provenance: private Beaverton, Oregon, USA collection

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#176346

  • Condition: Old inactive insect activity on bamboo main frame, and these should be reinforced before displaying. Stable pressure fissure on wood and bark. Fraying to bark and rattan stitches. Active flaking to clay and bark. Wood mask is in good condition, but the rest of the panel is fair. Wire added to verso for suspension and some newer cord lashings added to frame.

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March 19, 2023 9:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
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