Abelam Cane Yam Mask With Coconut Shell Face-New Guinea Art-Oceanic Art
Here is a very rare Southern Abelam cane yam mask with a coconut shell face. The yam mask is tiny with a sweet expression, tightly constructed and has layers of pink, white, black and yellow magical pigments—the surest sign of ritual efficacy (my essay on Abelam Yam Masks is here. The piece is one I originally field collected in 2009 and subsequently went into the Dick Jemison Collection of Birmingham Alabama. The yam mask is 8” (20.3 cm) in height, dates to the early/mid 20th century and sells for $1400.