Sepik River Tambanum Wood Spirit Mask w/ Cane Rim (Auction 2026-06-05, Lot 158)

$289.13

Oceania, Papua New Guinea, Middle Sepik River, Tambanum village, ca. 20th. A striking Sepik River spirit mask with elongated form and bold, graphic surface, framed by a woven cane rim and fiber attachments. Carved in wood and painted in earthy tones of black, white, and ochre, the face is animated by swirling motifs, pierced eyes, and a pronounced nose, embodying the stylized presence of ancestral or spirit beings. The braided fiber cords and cane edging add both structure and movement, typical of masks used in ceremonial or display contexts within Tambanum village traditions.
Size: 10″ W x 22.8″ H (25.4 cm x 57.9 cm)

Provenance: private Park City, Utah, USA collection; collected in 2019 in Papua New Guinea

Condition: Good. Some fraying and tearing to cane and woven reeds. Light surface wear with a few small nicks to wood. Otherwise, intact and excellent with great pigments and detail. Suspension hoop on top periphery for display.