This is a wonderful talipoon bride’s price payment from the Yangoru Boiken people of Papua New Guinea’s Prince Alexander Mountains. This unusual type is called "taro" after the roughly tuber shaped fiber body. There is a nicely carved and painted wood bird’s head at the top (notice part of lower beak missing). The base is a cut and semi-polished green turban sea shell. The paint is strong and well executed. The face on the fiber body is a bush spirit with a deeply pierced nose. Overall the talipoon as mounted is 20" in height, dates to the 1930/40s. sold