Oceania, Papua New Guinea, Middle Sepik River, Kanganaman village, ca. mid-20th century CE. A beautifully made, enormous woven dance mask, known as a "tumbuan", made of rattan fiber, with two woven rattan faces, one on the chest, and one on the head, both with distinctive hooked noses. Each of these is adorned with a boar tusk nose ring. This two-faced style is specific to Kanganaman village. The rattan is painted with red clay and charcoal based pigments. Woven spirals stud the back and cassowary feathers project from the top of the head. The costume has a long skirt made of sago fronds that will move and catch the eye during a dance. This is a huge, delightful piece that will start a lot of conversations! Size: 18.45" W x 72" H (46.9 cm x 182.9 cm); 72" H (182.9 cm) on included custom stand.
Papua New Guinea is an amazingly culturally diverse area, with people in each hilly area and river valley producing interesting and unique artwork; Kanga, in the Middle Sepik River region (which flows northwest from the central highlands that dominate Papua New Guinea to empty into the Bismarck Sea on the north coast). Masks like this one may represent water or bush spirits. When they are not being used, they hang in the ceiling of houses made specifically for them.
Provenance: private Tucson, Arizona, USA collection, acquired between 1950 and 1985
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#150837
Condition
Wear commensurate with age, including some losses to the skirt fibers. Light patina on all surfaces.