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Antique Lower Sepik brag type mask Papua New Guinea Murik Lakes Ramu Oceanic
About the Item
Ancient and exceptional mask of the brag type, Murik Lakes , Mouth Of The Lower Sepik / Ramu Papua New Guinea
A lovely patina and traces of red/brown ochres.
Length: 47 cm
Very good condition
Exceptional piece and museum quality (please see photos)
Early 20th century ca 1920/1930.
Note : This mask was created by an artist from the Murik people on the Murik Lagoon off the Coastal Sepik River in the East Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea. Friede (2005: 90, text to cat. 45) notes: "This is a classic Murik mask of exceptional quality. It represents a specific war spirit or spiritman (brag) named Emang (Lipset 1997: 136). When it and other sacred Murik objects were carved, the artist sequestred himself in the men's house, employed magic leaves, and recited incantations called timits. [...] Bien and Avis 1975: 17 state: 'All important [Murik] masks have the spider design occuring on them somewhere. The spider is the perfect designer. The fine, precise lines of its web and the intricacy of the design it produces symbolize the kind of perfection the carver himself is aiming at.'
"The role of these masks in headhunting is described as follows: 'Brag masks [masqueraders] came down from the houses. They were richly decorated and shook as they surrounded the head [of the headhunted victim]. The spirit [mask] slurped at the blood about the head and then shoved it to the next mask. Blood dripped from the mouths of the masks' (Schmidt in Lipset 1997: 197)."
- Dimensions:Height: 18.51 in (47 cm)Width: 8.27 in (21 cm)Depth: 3.94 in (10 cm)
- Style:Tribal (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1920
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Leuven, BE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU8895235084722
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- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Leuven, Belgium
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
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