Fabulous Old MORTLOCK ISLAND Painted Ancestor Couple, MICRONESIA!
Old MORTLOCK ISLAND Painted Ancestor Couple, MICRONESIA
Origin: Micronesia, Mortlock Island, (Provenance: Acquired from an Antique dealer in Tacoma Washington. From the estate of an old anthropologist.)
Period/Date: Circa 1930's
Materials: Breadfruit wood, polychrome paint
Description: This ancestor couple is very traditionally carved with classic hair styles, face paint and large shell earrings. The seated male is on a prestige stool and has detailed facial hair with generous hair bun, and dramatic painted disk earrings. His face has wonderful detail and expression. The female has an adze cut base with elaborate linked shell disk earrings and painted warp skirt. She appears to have an old applied stain or varnish while the male does not. Its hard to find figures of this quality now. They have good scale and substantial volume with a distinctive spiritual countenance. Each is presented on a custom wood base.
Dimensions: Male: Height 15.75” (40 cm), width 6” (15.5 cm), Female: Height 14.75” (37.3 cm), width 5.75” (14.5 cm)
Priced individually: Male $1900 Female $700