DECORATED ABELAM POLYCHROME MALE FIGURE 

Item Code: OC1671

Origin:  New Guinea, Middle Sepik River, Abelam People (Provenance:  Previously owned by Gregory Ghent.  Deaccessioned from the San Francisco De Young Museum's Collection in 1998.  Previously owned by Victor Bergeron (aka "Trader Vic) of San Francisco.  It was gifted to the M. H. De Young Museum in 1958 by Mr. Bergeron and has accession numbers and labels on the back)

Description:  An Abelam male figure with stunning polychrome natural ochre paints dating to the late 1940's or early 1950's.   It features totemic hornbills surmounting the head with Cockatoo Bird beaks  framing the neck and legs.  In addition this "nggwal", ancestral figure is seen wearing a traditional Kina Shell around the neck and has a relief carved phallus with a secondary painted face at the feet.  In good condition retaining over 90 percent of its charcoal and ochre paint  with a few normal age cracks.  A nice piece of art ready to be displayed on any wall.

Dimensions:  Height 44",  width 11" 

Price:   SOLD