Portrait of a spirits head
Papua New Guinea, Abelam
sold
EUR 600
Size
H: 33 cm
H: 13.0 inch
Description
wood, painted in traditional colours (with yellow and red ochre, black pigment), with diadem from dog teeth, forehead emblem and jagged beard, insect caused missing parts, cracks, rep. (breakage at the left rim), 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.