Abelam or Bukie Culture Wooden Yam Mask-New Guinea Art-Oceanic Art
I remember field collecting this very fine and very old wooden yam mask from a Bukie culture village in the hills behind Ulupu. There were three or four from the same old man he had laid out on the ground in front of his house. They were all ancient and beautifully composed with rounded faces and full, let’s say prominent, noses. Please take your time to appreciate the subtle differences this small wooden mask has to others of its type—because these are common—but this is a really excellent one. The volumes, the tongue sticking out, the scooped out reverse with very dark aged patina, the ears with deep, crater-like holes, the smooth but layered surface—all point to a top quality and early wooden yam mask. This one dates to the early 20th century, is 7 5/8” (19.3 cm) in height.