Middle Sepik River Gable Mask
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Middle Sepik River Gable Mask
About the Item
Collection provenance from the Christensen Fund, a Californian based philanthropic corporation, established by the late Allen D. Christensen.
He acquired significant Melanesian and Polynesian art from all of the worlds major auction houses, as well as international dealers specialising in Tribal Art.
Much of this vast collection was auctioned by Sotheby’s, in Sydney, Australia in October 1996. The collection number is painted on the back of the piece and the inventory tag from the Christensen Fund accompanies the piece.
Gable masks, like this example, known as "savi", are made of a medium density wood, and painted with beautiful natural earth pigments.
Pierced at the top to suspend on the inside gable of a Sepik house. A savi mask is about power, including the power to counter black magic. All savi have their tongues stuck out as a sign of aggression towards enemies of their clan. In the men's ceremonial Haus Tambarans, the orator's stools are savis and also many of the gable masks, as savis are at the top of the power structure. Savis do not need to be danced to bring power, just gathering them is enough. Only certain powerful men may lower the savi tumbuans from their storage position in the Haus Tambanum.
This example exhibits a beautiful rich old worn patina to the front surfaces and significant oxidation to the unfinished back. Mounted on a custom-built exotic wood stand.
- Dimensions:Height: 23 in (58.42 cm)Width: 10.25 in (26.04 cm)Depth: 2.5 in (6.35 cm)Seat Height: 18.75 in (47.63 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:early 20th century
- Condition:Good ethnographic condition.
- Seller Location:San Francisco, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: U0911098425114
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