Papua New Guinea

Old Ancestor Canoe Prow Mask, Chambri Lakes, PNG, Papua New Guinea, Oceanic

Old Ancestor Canoe Prow Mask, Chambri Lakes, PNG, Papua New Guinea, Oceanic
Old Ancestor Canoe Prow Mask, Chambri Lakes, PNG, Papua New Guinea, Oceanic
Old Ancestor Canoe Prow Mask, Chambri Lakes, PNG, Papua New Guinea, Oceanic
Old Ancestor Canoe Prow Mask, Chambri Lakes, PNG, Papua New Guinea, Oceanic
Old Ancestor Canoe Prow Mask, Chambri Lakes, PNG, Papua New Guinea, Oceanic
Old Ancestor Canoe Prow Mask, Chambri Lakes, PNG, Papua New Guinea, Oceanic

Old Ancestor Canoe Prow Mask, Chambri Lakes, PNG, Papua New Guinea, Oceanic
To see more fine oceanic artefacts. This is a beautifully raw organic powerful old spirit mask. Decorated with paint made from natural pigments and charcoal from the Chambri Lakes, East Sepik, Papua New Guinea. Like the facades of the houses in neighboring middle Sepik river villages, canoes were painted and decorated in numerous ways. Requisite modes of quotidian transportation on the river and on the lakes that formed from them, large canoes were critical during inter-village conflicts and battle. Able to carry numerous warriors to battle, the appearance of the vessel was as important as its functionality.

In many middle Sepik river villages and neighboring areas such as Chambri Lakes, war canoes were decorated at the front with so-called masks made of a W-shaped armature of cane and painted sago palm leaf spathe on which a small wood and painted carving of a face was attached. According to Dirk Smidt, the shape of the support resembles a bird as it lands on the canoe.

This mythical bird symbolizes the fighting force of the whole clan. These masks may also have had another function and attached to a mask costume Smidt in Kooten and van den Heuvel, eds. Sculptuur uit Afrika en Oceanië, Otterlo, 1990, pp. Similar in form to the much larger gable masks seen on ceremonial houses, the canoe masks without pierced holes for eyes, had a similar function, to create alarm and great fear to the approaching enemy. A similar form can be seen in the example collected in 1925 in the Ethnologisches Museum Berlin inv.

VI 42458, illustrated on the cover of Heinz Kelms 1966 work Kunst vom Sepik I. The small protruding tongue, fierce eyes and powerful pigment sent a clear and menacing message to their adversaries that the ensuing events would not end well for them. 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 "Old Ancestor Canoe Prow Mask, Chambri Lakes, PNG, Papua New Guinea, Oceanic" is in sale since Monday, July 27, 2020.

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.

  • Material: Wood
  • Original/Reproduction: Original
  • Provenance: Chambri Lakes
  • Originating Region: Papua New Guinea
  • Product Type: Carvings


Old Ancestor Canoe Prow Mask, Chambri Lakes, PNG, Papua New Guinea, Oceanic