This beautiful piece is a Papuan Gulf marupai charm carved from a small, oddly shaped coconut (these are not from immature or dwarf coconuts as confirmed by Harry Beran). Marupai are considered magical and protective. The ancestral face is wonderfully composed and expressive. The profile of the Marupai is zoomorphic with an open mouth holding a small slab of magical tree bark. The piece is 5" in length, dates to around 1940. sold