Lot 0138

Huge Papua New Guinea Mwai Mask Male Ancestor

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Huge Papua New Guinea Mwai Mask Male Ancestor

Item Details

Description

Oceania, Papua New Guinea, Middle Sepik River, Iatmul people, ca. mid to late 20th century CE. An elaborate wooden mwai mask (also mai or mei mask) depicting a male ancestor with huge shell eyes surrounded by intricately painted designs, bone tusks, and a long, curved nose ending in the head of a crocodile, all surrounded by cowrie shells inlaid in clay and a red and orange raffia beard. Size: 5.5" L x 10.3" W x 33" H (14 cm x 26.2 cm x 83.8 cm)

Provenance: private Boulder, Colorado, USA collection, acquired from Palmyra Heritage Gallery, New York, New York, USA, May 21, 2023, part of lot 655; ex-Dr. Arnold R. Saslow collection, South Orange, New Jersey, USA

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#185153

Condition

Chipping to clay in lower right corner of chin, loss of 1 shell on arch of nose, and loss of one tusk with chipping to nose. Some nicks and abrasions to wood as shown, and shedding to raffia beard, though still appears quite thick. Otherwise, impressive presentation with nice remaining pigments and inlays. Informative label and suspension wire on verso.

Buyer's Premium

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Huge Papua New Guinea Mwai Mask Male Ancestor

Name: Huge Papua New Guinea Mwai Mask Male Ancestor
SKU: 176640973
Price: 500 USD
Availability: InStock

Estimate $1,000 - $1,500

See Sold Price

Starting Price $500

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