Coastal Sepik River Dance Mask-New Guinea Art-Oceanic Art
In the over 46 extended field collecting trips to Papua New Guinea, I never collected on the Sepik River. The closest I came was catching a truck to Angoram village on the Lower Sepik River and then walking north through the hills toward the coast to Boig and Ariapan villages. It was in this area that I field collected this mask probably 25 years ago. It is classic Coastal Sepik style with great forehead and chin designs, remains of both orange and red pigments, pierced nose, ears and nostril and a solid dark brown aged patina on the reverse. The mask dates to the early/mid 20th century, is 17 ¾” (45 cm) in height and sells for $4200.