Wood Ceremonial Mei Ancestor Spirit Mask, Iatmul Middle Sepik Papua New Guinea

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Detail:  Very incised Mei Mask from Iatmul.  Lots of painted scrolling ornament on the face and the famous curved nose adjoining the chin feature (with a serpent head at the chin).  The red and white pigment is still present over all the mask.  These masks (also referred to as Mwai masks) were not worn on the head but were attached to the front of the ceremonial costume.  They are spirit masks.  This mask is in very good shape and probably dates back to early- or mid-1900’s.   I secured it from a prominent university collection in 2001.  For the Serious Collector.  Stand not included.

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