Pre-contact Middle Sepik River Mask-New Guinea Art-Oceanic Art
This is an ancient pre-contact, stone-carved mask from the Middle Sepik River area of Papua New Guinea. It has a wonderful naturalism and full volumes not often encountered. The eyes are deep set under a rounded forehead, nose has a large, pierced septum and the tongue is fully distended. There is an ancient glossy patina on the reverse. The mask was acquired in from the Los Angeles dealer Tom Slater in 1981. It is 8 7/8” (22.6 cm) in height, dates to the late 19th century.