#1021 • Papua New Guinea Ceremonial Gable Mask

Part of Professor’s Collection Part One: Pacific & Pre-Columbian Artifacts (live auction by Blue Box Auction Gallery)

High bid $95.00

Status: Sold

Estimated Value: $200-300 Origin: Papua New Guinea Sepik River region Dimensions: 14x5x44 in.  Condition: Wear and cracking of the paint and some feathers appear to have come unattached. Also some of the wood has chipped off in some spots. Additional Information: A wooden carved ceremonial gable mask, likely from the latmul people. The mask has painted light orange, white, and gray designed around a carving of a face with carved bone swirl eyes. The mask also has a feathered beard-like structure on the bottom with small feathers tied to larger feathers.    The mask is meant to protect a houses inhabitants. They are often placed on the gable of men or women's cult houses and embody the spirits of ancestors.