Papua New Guinea

Powerful Old Yena Spirit Dance Yam Cult Mask, Upper Sepik, PNG, Papua New Guinea

Powerful Old Yena Spirit Dance Yam Cult Mask, Upper Sepik, PNG, Papua New Guinea
Powerful Old Yena Spirit Dance Yam Cult Mask, Upper Sepik, PNG, Papua New Guinea
Powerful Old Yena Spirit Dance Yam Cult Mask, Upper Sepik, PNG, Papua New Guinea
Powerful Old Yena Spirit Dance Yam Cult Mask, Upper Sepik, PNG, Papua New Guinea
Powerful Old Yena Spirit Dance Yam Cult Mask, Upper Sepik, PNG, Papua New Guinea
Powerful Old Yena Spirit Dance Yam Cult Mask, Upper Sepik, PNG, Papua New Guinea
Powerful Old Yena Spirit Dance Yam Cult Mask, Upper Sepik, PNG, Papua New Guinea
Powerful Old Yena Spirit Dance Yam Cult Mask, Upper Sepik, PNG, Papua New Guinea

Powerful Old Yena Spirit Dance Yam Cult Mask, Upper Sepik, PNG, Papua New Guinea
To see more fine oceanic artefacts. This is a stunning well carved very large old Yena Spirit Dance Yam Cult Mask from the Upper Sepik region of Papua New Guinea. This stunning organic very old Yena spirit dance mask is extremely well carved with a convex facial plane, the nose carved as phallic and classical of the Nukuma Waskuk, the eyes as small nubs and with simple smiling mouth.

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. This is a fine very old spirit dance mask and is of far higher quality than is usually found and is truly a museum quality organic piece.

The piece been flame dried over an open fire showcasing its early origins. The estimated age of the piece is between 1970s to 1980s. 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. 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 "Powerful Old Yena Spirit Dance Yam Cult Mask, Upper Sepik, PNG, Papua New Guinea" is in sale since Saturday, November 16, 2019. 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: Nukuma
  • Product Type: Carvings
  • Era: 1970s


Powerful Old Yena Spirit Dance Yam Cult Mask, Upper Sepik, PNG, Papua New Guinea