Abelam Coiled Cane Yam Mask, Bapa Mene, New Guinea Art-Oceanic Art
This Abelam coiled cane yam mask is of a very unusual style with a beautiful open-work section between the face and the rest of the headdress portion. There are five tassel motifs tipped with small cowrie shells. There are layers of orange, red, white and black traditional pigments. It comes from the Helmut Gutbrod Collection in Berlin, dates to the early 20th century and is 13⅞” (35.2 cm) in height. This one was published in my Michael Hamson Oceanic Art San Francisco 2015 catalog, no. 30. The price is $2000.