TALIPUN MASK, Yangoru-Boiken, PNG

Chris Boylan Oceanic Art

Wood Talipun Mask, Yangoru-Boiken, PNG

Published in Michael Hamson’s “Art of the Boiken”, 2011, pp162.

Ex-Michael Kremerskothen collection, Germany; ex-Michael Hamson collection, USA.

Wooden spirit masks from the Arapesh are very rare, with the vast majority woven from stripped cane. This mask is ancient. It is a pre-contact, stone-carved and dates possibly to 19th Century. The colours are pale and subtle, but the carving is super with the strong projecting line of the face finishing with a wide strong nose, with a flared and pierced septum. Above are strange non-symmetrical round eyes; below, the mouth displays sharp teeth and a small protruding tongue. The large hole at the base suggests this mask may have been used as a talipun mask, secured to a green turbo shell, as an important bride price.

$5,800.00

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