Important Double Faced Abelam Baba Mask - tc35

Category: Masks, latest pieces

Maprik Area, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

A fantastic example of this style of woven mask. Made particularly interesting by the second backwards facing face. Extremely well woven with raised mouths, and ears, and coiled frames around the faces and along the ridges of the nose. Wearing a cassowary feather headdress, and beautifully decorated with natural pigments. Smokey dark patina from time spent in storage in the “hauskuk” , in excellent condition. Mounted on a custom display stand. Mid 20th Century.

Dimensions: 63 x 50 x 26 cm or 24.5 x 19.5 x 10.25 inches.

Price: Price on Application

(View Larger Image & Make Enquiry…)

Abelam Baba Initiation Mask - bf579

Category: Masks

Maprik Area, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

An Abelam woven Baba Mask. Tightly woven bark fibre with applied natural pigment decoration. Weathered and encrusted patina; in excellent condition. Circa 1960’s. Mounted on a custom steel display stand.

Height: 35.5 cm or 14 inches.

Price: Price on Application

(View Larger Image & Make Enquiry…)

Schouten Islands Dance Mask - bf690

Category: Masks

Schouten Islands, East Sepik, Papua New Guinea

An important old Schouten Islands Dance Mask; most likely originating from Vokeo island. Known as “Lewa” these masks represent the ancestor “Tangbwal”. Well carved from hard wood, in classic form with the exaggerated large nose bearing a carved wooden nose-piece. The holes around the outer rim of the mask exhibiting wear from being attached to the dancers costume obviously a number of times. Traces of white lime infill is still visible on the wooden nose ornament. The front of this mask bears a deep glossy patina, while the reverse is dark and encrusted, in truly wonderful condition. Circa early to mid 20th Century. Mounted on a steel display stand.
Height:41 cm or 16 inches.
Price: Price On Application

(View Larger Image & Make Enquiry…)

Old Abelam Woven Yam Mask - bf582

Category: Masks

Ulupu Village, Maprik Area, Papua New Guinea

An old Abelam woven yam mask. Attached to yams at harvest ceremonies to represent ancestor spirits. Unusual stout form of woven cane with lovely muted natural pigment decoration. The reverese showing age due to built up encrustations; in excellent condition. Mounted on a steel display stand.

Dimensions: 21 x 31 cm or 8.25 x 12.2 inches.
Price: $950.00 AUD

(View Larger Image & Make Enquiry…)

Fine Upper Ramu Flute Mask - bf681

Category: Masks

Upper Ramu River, Papua New Guinea.

A fine Upper Ramu flute mask. Usually seen adorning a sacred flute; a ceremonial object constructed from sections of bamboo. These flutes are an important object in mens initiaion ceremonies and are traditionally banned from being viewed by women. Important flutes had masks like this one attatched to them. This mask is carved from hard light wood and decorated with natural pigments. Bearing a pierced septum, with definite wear on the top and bottom where the mask has been attached to the flute. Weathered patina in excellent condition. Circa: early to mid 20th Century. Mounted on a steel display stand.
Ex Syber Collection Melbourne

Height: 46 cm or 18 inches.
Price: $1200.00 AUD

(View Larger Image & Make Enquiry…)