Coastal Sepik River Female Figure-Ex. Van Lier Collection-New Guinea Art-Oceanic Tribal Art
Here is an important large Coastal Sepik River female ancestral spirit figure from the Leendert Van Lier Collection (1910-1995). This early figure has small but piercing oval eyes under a straight brow, a large pierced nasal septum, pierced ears and a crescent mouth. The head sits low on the chest. The distended belly and oddly articulated limbs give the sculpture a pleasingly quirky composition. The figure was part of the Van Lier sale at Christie’s Amsterdam on 15 April 1997—lot 132. The piece dates to the early 20th century, is 25 ¾” (65.4 cm) in height, is from a New Jersey private collection. SOLD