Oceanic Art - Image Enlargement

Dec05-162

Dec05-162

Dec05-162

Dec05-162

Dec05-162

This mask is a classic Coastal Ramu River mask collected in the early 1960s by Barry Hoare. The mask has the traditional red pigments — the forehead is correctly unpainted as this is the area hidden by the cane superstructure that supports the mask and headdress on the shoulders of the dancer. The nostrils are pierced where string decorations would have been strung. The holes around the mask's perimeter are the old and rough cut. The reverse is painted in a classic orange pigment and there is a faint "Wangam Lagoon" written in pencil indicating where the piece was collected. The mask is 18" in height, comes mounted on a custom display stand and sells for $3800..Questions?