Large Yam Cult House Mask, Washkuk Hills Region, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Oceanic
To see more fine oceanic artefacts. Field collected, this is a stunning old well carved Yam Cult House Mask from the Upper Sepik region of Papua New Guinea. This stunning organic Yena spirit house mask is extremely well carved with a convex facial plane, the nose carved as phallic and small round nubs for eyes classical of the Nukuma Washkuk. This zoomorphic figure is from the Upper Sepik area in Papua New Guinea and would have been used in spirit dances as part of the Yam Cult Harvests and Festivals. The Kwoma and Nukuma live in the foothills of the hill country rising from Ambunti.
Like the Abelam, they practice a life-defining Yam cult. But while the Abelam do their utmost to breed the individual yam roots as long as possible - the longest are just under 4m long - the Kwoma and Nukuma pile up huge piles of yams and decorate these piles with yena dance sticks, rods and masks by arranging them in the heap , Compare this with Figure 39 in the brochure of the Museum of Ethnology in Basel by Christian Kaufmann: About Art and Culture at the Kwoma and Nukuma. Pre post weight 0.9 kg. This is not always possible given the sizes and unique packing requirements for each unique piece.
Can also insure package if required. STANDS ARE NOT INCLUDED WITH ANY ITEM. Pictures make up part of the description.
The item "Large Yam Cult House Mask, Washkuk Hills Region, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Oceanic" is in sale since Wednesday, January 6, 2021. This item is in the category "Antiques\Ethnographic\Pacific Islands & Oceania". The seller is "bubble_artefacts" and is located in Wurtulla, QLD.
This item can be shipped worldwide.- Originating Region: Papua New Guinea
- Material: Wood
- Original/Reproduction: Original
- Provenance: Washkuk Hills
- Product Type: Carvings
- Era: 1980's