New Guinea LOWER SEPIK MINIATURE BETEL NUT MORTAR FIGURE
New Guinea LOWER SEPIK BETEL NUT MORTAR FIGURE
Origin: New Guinea, Lower Sepik River or Coastal Sepik (Provenance: Ex. Collection of Lynda Cunningham Philmont, New York)
Period/Date: Likely Circa 1920's-30's
Materials: Hardwood, Traces of ocher pigment
Description: This miniature ancestor figure is very detailed from the head up, yet it has a classic clunky rudimentary body. It has a finely carved mask-like face with prominent nose and deeply carved, slightly asymmetrical eyes! Very well-formed relief-carved ears. The elliptical bowl is shallow and has open work at the base and top of the head, connected by slender delicate beak-like appendages. Asymmetry is also repeated in the pectoral detail. It has acquired a dry varied semi-encrusted dark brown patina. Traces of red pigment in low areas and crevasses.
Dimensions: Height 6.75” (17 cm), width 2 3/8" (6 cm)