Anthropomorphic mask
Papua New Guinea - Sepik
not available anymore
Provenance
collected in situ by Bruce Lawes, Papua New Guinea (1955 - 1969)Size
H: 48 cm
H: 18.9 inch
Description
wood, greyish brown encrusted patina, traces of black paint, the contour of face, eyes and mouth accentuated by notches, tongue-shaped projections on top of the head and at the chin, slightly dam., hairline cracks, rep (backside), on metal base;
in the Lower Sepik Area, it is generally accepted that long pointed noses represent spiritual beings while short naturalistic ones portray true ancestors.