**Originally Listed At $200**

Papua New Guinea, Lower Sepik River, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A fabulous stylized ancestor figure that fits snugly into a fiber and shell bilum bag. The guardian has an anthropomorphic body with slightly bent legs and hands resting on his thighs, but the oversized head is avian. The abstract, mask-like visage points downwards with slanting, ovoid eyes, and a tapering beak extends to the figure's abdomen, just above his genitalia, and curls inward. A knob-like coiffure protrudes from the top of the head. The head is a masterful piece of open work, and in profile a smaller interior loop mirrors the shape of the beak. This human-bird hybrid is a likely an ancestor spirit that would protect the living. The bilum pouch is woven with tightly twisted cords with small white cowrie shells sewn to the exterior and painted with black pigments. This figure may have been stored and carried within this pouch, and both are wonderful examples of traditional artistry! Size of figure: 2.25" W x 6.5" H (5.7 cm x 16.5 cm); size of pouch with strap: 5" L x 4" W x 13.75" H (12.7 cm x 10.2 cm x 34.9 cm)

Provenance: private Lowe collection, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA acquired 1980s

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#138348

Minor nicks and abrasions, stable fissure above genitalia, and nice patina! Tearing and fraying of fiber straps. Shells have some chipping to black pigment, but are well preserved!