AN INDONESIAN TRIBAL PAINTED AND CARVED WOOD CANOE FIGUREHEAD, ASMAT PEOPLES, PAPUA NEW GUINEA, with a flat topped head and short hairstyle above deep angular blackened eyes and a slightly opened mouth revealing a stylized tongue, flanked by scarification details and ears suspending beaded cassowary feather earrings, over a long cylindrical neck and conforming torso with tubular arms holding aloft a reticulated carving, enclosing seated figures supporting stylized "8" details, over angular legs flanking a stylized bird, raised on a long circular peg. Height: 38 5/8" Provenance: This canoe figurehead was purchased by the Seldens during their 1973 trip to Indonesia and region.

Surface build up, age cracks, areas of paint loss, minor chips, old repairs.

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