Classic New Guinea KERAM River Painted MASK
Classic New Guinea KERAM River Painted MASK
Origin: New Guinea, E. Sepik Province, South of the Lower Sepik, Keram River Tributary (Provenance: Acquired from an Ohio collector who bought it from Michael Hamson)
Period/Date: circa 1920-30s
Materials: hardwood, earth pigments, fiber, feathers
Description: This modernist looking mask with rectangular cut eye and triangular pierced nose is of flattened oval form and presented on a custom display stand. To me the face itself is mask-like. It has a bulbous forehead with mounded eye brows. It retains much of its pigments of lime, charcoal, blue and green which is achieved by crushing and drying mango leaves. I've had a couple other examples of this mask but this one has the oldest wood with irregular tool marks having a dry patina. Good condition with some minor loss. Has remnants of its rattan framework with applied Cassowary bird feathers.
Dimensions: Height 16.5" (42 cm), Width 7.5" (19 cm)