Woven Mask. Ancestor Spirit Long Nose. Helmet. Blackwater River. Papua. New Guinea.

M_6331_02 M_6331_01 M_6331_03 M_6331_04 M_6331_05 M_6331_06
<
>

Click the photo above for a larger version and more pictures

This is an older spirit mask of an ancestor.  From the 1970s. Acquired in the area near the junction of the Blackwater and Korosameri Rivers.

This is an example of tight wicker work and is an excellent specimen at 33” long. Notice the cassowary feathers

These masks are sometimes used in ceremonies but are typically hung in the gables of ancestral houses of worship / initiation / rituals.   Such masks ward off bad spirits.

I apologize for not having vertical photos.  Many had to be converted to a horizontal format.  I am sure you can see the details however.

This is a museum quality piece in very good condition.  They are rare in this condition.

For the Serious Collector.

This item is no longer available.