Avian Wood Carved Female Ancestor Figure Lower Sepik River Papua New Guinea

This listing is for a 22 tall wooden, carved female ancestor figure from Papua New Guinea. From the limited research I've done, it appears to originate from the lower Sepik River region.

Although not very common, avian themed ancestor figures seem to come from this region. The overall shape of this piece is quite striking. The vertical flow of this sculpture is unique to the few bird-shaped masked carvings that I've seen.

The woman's hands hold on to the beak as it extends down to her pelvis. The contrast between the lighter mask color and the thin black body is really visually pleasing as well. The shape of the eyes are executed so well as are the nostrils and the hairline. The piece is extremely symmetrical which I understand to be very desirable in ancestor carvings. I acquired this at an estate sale that had many tribal carvings, tools and weapons from Papua New Guinea.

Based on what I saw, I would estimate that this piece was acquired by the original owner in the 1950s or 1960s. The base measures about 6" x 5". Condition is excellent with no noticeable flaws beyond what would be expected for a piece of this age. Please check the photos for what you are purchasing and feel free to ask me any questions.

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