Yam mask · Papua New Guinea, Abelam · ID: 3042958
Michael Hamson, Palos Verdes, California, USA
Description
wood, painted with bright red pigment, accents in white and black, bearded ancestor spirit head, superimposed to slightly vaulted flat plate, drilled holes for attachment in pairs on top and at the bottom, slightly dam., abrasion of paint, base.
Masks of that kind were used when the “big yam” was harvested. The fruit was looked upon as a spiritual being and was adorned with such masks and feathers of the white cockatoo.
The object Yam mask with the object ID 3042958 was last part of the auction 87th Tribal Art Auction at November 11, 2017 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 11 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,000.
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