Old Palembei Iatmul Sepik Shaman Ancestor Polychrome Carving Sacred Mask 12A0C

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Old Palembei Iatmul Sepik Shaman Ancestor Polychrome Carving Sacred Mask 12A0C:
$199.99

Check this sellerbestbuysandsales, on this site, for the best values on health and beauty aids, direct, at wholesale prices, free shipping available also.

You are buying a rare totemmask hand painted on both sides, a unique hand carved detailed sculpture fromthe Sepik region of Papua New Guinea representing mystical symbolic protectiveancestors and seen on all the pictures.

DOUBLE FACE AND BIRD CARVINGS TOWARDS THENECK.

It was collected in thefield along the Sepik River in PNG, in Palembei village.

Detailed piece: 241/2\" tall x 7 1/2\" wide: it is painted delicately on both sides, someof the photos show the hand painted back, decorated as well. The other masksseen here are available as well.

Number12A0Cin our inventory

This figure was kept in themen’s spirit house (called Haus Tambaran or Gaigo). It works as a magicalshield together with other figures in the Gaigo, generally protecting from bad magicworked against the village by marauding demons (Maselei) or magic generated byenemy sorcerers (Sanguma).

The story from wheresome of these characters are drawn often refers to secret tales only known bythe tribal elders. The figure was hand carved out of wood. All eyes are Nassashells incrusted into the hand carving. Colors are natural pigments obtainedfrom nature such as white lime from shells, charcoal etc....

In Palembei village, on themiddle Sepik river, Papua New Guinea, outstanding master carvers, whose workappear in Art Exhibitions around the world, created beautiful slim polychromestatues inspired by their spiritual beliefs and traditional tales. While firmlybased in tradition, these contemporary works abound with both innovation and individualexpression. Among the finest traditional art forms of the Sepik region are thefine varied sculptures kept in the men\'s ceremonial house.

Such figures are imbibedwith the magic to protect the village from bad magic worked against it by enemysorcerers (Samguma).

All our Tribal Sepik river carvings, fromPapua New Guinea, were collected on the premises.

Carvings are always well made, in spite ofthe relatively crude implements including stone adzes and drills and the sharkskin rasps and polishes which are used to produce works of carved delicategrace.

Masks, statues and carvings of Papua New Guinea’scultures serve a variety of spiritual, cultural and decorative purposes. Mostof the carvings found in PNG are from the Sepik region, where the productionand use of masks, among other things, is an important part of traditionalculture. Ancestral masks, for example, represent deceased clan ancestors,totemic creatures that assist the tribe by interceding on a high plane toprovide food, prevent and cure illness, while spirit masks embody tribalspirits who inhabit the surrounding jungle, & may come to the help of thetribe to counterattack sorcery spells meant to arm them.

Ancestors assist one\'s life by interceding on a highplane to provide food, prevent and cure illness, acquire stature, and countersorcery attempted via the ancestor spirit plane. These are examples ofbeautiful rare original standing masks of Ancestral figures from Papua NewGuinea (above and next page): hand-carved wood adorned with rattan basketry,cassowary feathers and hand-painted with clay-based colors, shell eyes &clan animal at the top.

Ifa village or clan has a lot of bad luck, thewhole group may change their names and buy the rights to use masks from anotherclan in a different village in an attempt to fool the bad spirits or sorcerers.The resulting masks usually display characteristics of both groups. Each Sepik Rivervillage otherwise is independent and has a distinctive style. Notwo masks can ever be exactly the same either. Each is crafted by a differentartist, representing a different ancestor or spirit, and is therefore unique. (Asa matter of fact, copying is forofferden and sentenced by local law unless thereis a formal agreement between the parties involved.)

The men carve masks fromindigenous wood. Paint is made from earth pigments andcharcoal. Masks can be decorated with shells, pig tusks, and Cassowary feathers. Few masks are worn directly over the face,which explains why many lack holes for eyes. They may be part of a largecone-shaped wicker framework for a dance costume called a tumbuan. Other masksare made only for display in the men\'s Haus to attract powerful and usefulspirits. Masks often refer to a clan totem such as crocodile or eagle usuallyrepresented carved on the forehead. New masks may appear when a man dreams a spiritand carves a mask to represent it.

We are closing our doors so everything hasbeen reduced!

All our collector and rareitems come with pages and pages of research about provenance, and with historyof the tribes and photos as well, depending on item and whenever possible. Whenshipping internationally, we group ship multiple purchases to save you money,and find the best rates which often fails to calculate right. If you have anyquestions or want to see research conducted on this piece and photos of tribes,email or call us.

We have artifacts and architectural accentsup to 10 ft tall that we will put on upon request because shipping has to becalculated.