Oceania, Papua New Guinea, probably Gulf Province, Tovei Village, ca. early to mid 20th century CE. HUGE and full of personality, a lively dance mask woven from colorful plant fibers, the body presenting an attractive zigzag pattern of red, chocolate brown, and cream hues, with arms extending from openings on the body, and a sago leaf skirt attached below the wooden ring that serves as the base of the figure. Atop the incredibly lengthy neck is an abstract bird-like visage, also made of woven fiber, with applied eyes, nose, and crested area along a long open beak, as well as an openwork crested headdress, and two tassels of raffia flanking the face. The decorative motifs painted on the visage resembling face paint are familiar from smaller Papuan masks. Also contributing to the mask's animated form are the arms, bent at the elbow and with extended fingers. Size: 42" W x 79" H (106.7 cm x 200.7 cm)

Provenance: private Tucson, Arizona, USA collection, acquired between 1950 and 1985

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#147628

Light wear on surface commensurate with age. Right arm reattached with string. Some areas of loose/missing fibers and minor losses to the sago leaf skirt, but most is sound. Otherwise in nice condition with slight fading to the pigment on the surface.