Portrait of a spirits head ·  Papua New Guinea, Abelam · ID: 3036476

Description

wood, greyish black base colour, yellow and red ochre, white pigment, painted in traditional colours, among others with a diadem of dogs teeth, plug-like projection at the bottom for attachment, slightly dam., minor missing parts (diadem), abrasion of paint, base;
representing a clan spirit, which were attached to the face wall of ritual houses (on both ends of a wooden beam). Might encorporate a yams spirit as well.

The object Portrait of a spirits head with the object ID 3036476 was last part of the auction 76th tribal art auction at March 22, 2014 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 44.

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Comparing literature

Koch, Gerd, Kultur der Abelam, Berlin 1968, ill. 35 Lippisches Landesmuseum Detmold (Hg.), Abelam, Detmold 1989, p. 43