Skip to main content

Papua New Guinea Iatmul People Initiation Mask, Middle Sepik River, Mid-20th C.

Papua New Guinea Iatmul People Initiation Mask, Middle Sepik River, Mid-20th C.

View Similar Items

Large Papua New Guinea Sepik River Mask Strong Face

Large Papua New Guinea Sepik River Mask Strong Face

Iatmul People "Mei" Mask Sepik River New Guinea

Iatmul People "Mei" Mask Sepik River New Guinea

Genuine Papua New Guinea Sepik area Maternity figure , middle 20th century

Genuine Papua New Guinea Sepik area Maternity figure , middle 20th century

Small Papua New Guinea Sepik River Bird Mask Strong Face

Small Papua New Guinea Sepik River Bird Mask Strong Face

Antique drum Middle Sepik Papua New Guinea Murik Lakes Ramu Oceanic Art Iatmul

Antique drum Middle Sepik Papua New Guinea Murik Lakes Ramu Oceanic Art Iatmul

Antique drum Middle Sepik Papua New Guinea Murik Lakes Ramu Oceanic Art Iatmul

Antique drum Middle Sepik Papua New Guinea Murik Lakes Ramu Oceanic Art Iatmul

Papua New Guinea Talipun, Boiken, Sepik River Region

Papua New Guinea Talipun, Boiken, Sepik River Region

Early Papua New Guinea Weathered Sepik Stylized Hook Figure Mask

Early Papua New Guinea Weathered Sepik Stylized Hook Figure Mask

Early Papua New Guinea Sepik Woven Raffia Talipun Mask Red Pigments ex Hamson

Early Papua New Guinea Sepik Woven Raffia Talipun Mask Red Pigments ex Hamson

Antique Lower Sepik brag type mask Papua New Guinea Murik Lakes Ramu Oceanic

Antique Lower Sepik brag type mask Papua New Guinea Murik Lakes Ramu Oceanic

Early Papua New Guinea Sepik Light Wood Yam Mask Elegant Flame Shaped Form

Early Papua New Guinea Sepik Light Wood Yam Mask Elegant Flame Shaped Form

Early Papua New Guinea Sepik Woven Raffia Talipun Mask With Pigments Custom Base

Early Papua New Guinea Sepik Woven Raffia Talipun Mask With Pigments Custom Base

Video Loading

1 of 21

Papua New Guinea Iatmul People Initiation Mask, Middle Sepik River, Mid-20th C.

About the Item

A mid-20th century large ceremonial initiation mask likely by the Iatmul people of the middle Sepik River region of Papua New Guinea, located between the Blackwater River and Karawari River in East Sepik Province. Impressively sized and well executed fantastical bird-like form with a 20-inch-long beak or nose and wide-open mouth, comprised of tightly hand-woven wicker basketry over a bent wood frame. Darkened surface is hand-painted with black, white, and salmon-colored natural earth pigment details and shapes. A copper-colored, hand-knotted raffia fringe embellishes nearly the entire perimeter of the piece. A fluffy tuft of cassowary feathers decorates the tip of the beak or nose, while a few more cassowary feathers remain at the top of the head. Opening on underside is 9.5 inches in diameter. Papua New Guinean masks such as this are often said to represent or channel ancestral spirits and reference various animals important to the clan. This one in particular likely draws inspiration from the saun, a bush bird central to the Iatmul culture, or the cassowary, often called “the world’s most dangerous bird”. When not being used for ceremonial purposes, it would’ve been hung with pride from the gables of a prominent dwelling. These are sometimes described online as being tumbuan masks, but we believe that designation to be incorrect, as tumbuan masks are of a distinctly different design and used during other types of ceremonies. Acquired from the San Francisco, California estate of a serious and prodigious decades-long collector of Papua New Guinean and African masks, art, and artifacts. Display stand is not included.

Dimensions:
Height: 26 in (66.04 cm)Width: 15 in (38.1 cm)Depth: 35 in (88.9 cm)
Style:
Tribal (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Bentwood,Feathers,Paint,Raffia,Wicker,Hand-Crafted,Hand-Painted,Hand-Woven
Place of Origin:
Papua New Guinea
Period:
Mid-20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
Mid-20th Century
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. In very good condition for age/materials. Lower "jaw" would've originally been positioned parallel to "beak" but wood support rods on either side are cracked; likely correctible, but still presents well as is. A couple minor wicker breaks. Fragile.
Seller Location:
San Francisco, CA
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU955043445032

You May Also Like

Large Papua New Guinea Sepik River Mask Strong Face

Located in Point Richmond, CA

Large dark reddish brown carved wood mask with underlying traces of red pigment, from New Guinea Sepik River Area. Strong downward looking expression, carved fringe edges. Signs of...

Category

Mid-20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Large Papua New Guinea Sepik River Mask Strong Face

Large Papua New Guinea Sepik River Mask Strong Face

$1,400 Sale Price

20% Off

Iatmul People "Mei" Mask Sepik River New Guinea

Located in Bridgeport, CT

A large and powerfully carved Ceremonial Mask from New Guinea. In mineral paints with Cowrie Shell Eyes. Collected in Kaminabit, Middle Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea. The Mei is t...

Category

20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Masks

Materials

Wood, Paint

Iatmul People "Mei" Mask Sepik River New Guinea

Iatmul People "Mei" Mask Sepik River New Guinea

$2,750

Genuine Papua New Guinea Sepik area Maternity figure , middle 20th century

Located in Bilzen, BE

A genuine statue from Papua New Guinea depicting a meternity (child on shoulders) The Sepik are a people who live along the Sepik River in Papua New Guinea. The peoples who bear the ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Genuine Papua New Guinea Sepik area Maternity figure , middle 20th century

Genuine Papua New Guinea Sepik area Maternity figure , middle 20th century

$788

Small Papua New Guinea Sepik River Bird Mask Strong Face

Located in Point Richmond, CA

Small carved darkened wood bird faced mask with long nose/beak. Smaller squatting figure with curled arms carved on forehead. From Sepik River Area of Papua New Guinea. Signs of ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Small Papua New Guinea Sepik River Bird Mask Strong Face

Small Papua New Guinea Sepik River Bird Mask Strong Face

$1,250

Antique drum Middle Sepik Papua New Guinea Murik Lakes Ramu Oceanic Art Iatmul

Located in Leuven, BE

Antique and exceptional drum of the Lower Sepik / Middle Sepik Papua New Guinea A lovely patina and traces of use. People : Iatmul? Country Papua New Guinea Length: 36 cm Very good c...

Category

Early 20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Antique drum Middle Sepik Papua New Guinea Murik Lakes Ramu Oceanic Art Iatmul

Antique drum Middle Sepik Papua New Guinea Murik Lakes Ramu Oceanic Art Iatmul

$869

Antique drum Middle Sepik Papua New Guinea Murik Lakes Ramu Oceanic Art Iatmul

Located in Leuven, BE

Antique and exceptional drum of the Lower Sepik / Middle Sepik Papua New Guinea A lovely patina and traces of use. People : Iatmul? Country Papua New Guinea Length: 40 cm Very good c...

Category

Early 20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Antique drum Middle Sepik Papua New Guinea Murik Lakes Ramu Oceanic Art Iatmul

Antique drum Middle Sepik Papua New Guinea Murik Lakes Ramu Oceanic Art Iatmul

$1,101

Recently Viewed

More Ways To Browse

Black Feather Top

Tribal Artifacts

African Feathers

African Copper Art

Channels Copper

Feather Head Piece Framed Art

Pair Of Benched

1930 French Lamps

Blue Glass Mirror

Mid Century Tubular Chair

Pair Of Danish Mid Century Chairs

Set Of Four Armchairs

Upholstered Portuguese Chair

19th Century Bedroom Chairs

Interlocking Tables

Pitcher With Handle

View All Popular Tribal Art Searches