A Fine and ornate Lower Sepik drum. Lower Sepik/Ramu River, Madang province, Papua New Guinea.Of ornate form, the beautifully carved drum with eight fully carved birds carved about the upper and lower perimeter, Fine elongated handle with avian heads as terminals, the front and back in black, with remains of white infill and depicting classical lower Sepik curvilinear incised designs. The whole with red enamel paint and black pigment.This beautiful old drum is a fine example of the elaborate carving of the Lower Sepik. The designs are well-worked out and beautifully finished. Red enamel paint is found on artifacts dating back to the 1930’s if not earlier and was an important European trade item as it acted as a means of preserving the wood from insect damage, besides being a permanent and vivid pigment.Acquired by Marc Seidler from an Australian auction, C. 1984. The Drum measures 32 inches tall x 8 inches wide.

Good, well handled