3363-009
Offered for sale is an impressive 32-inch ancestral spirit mask from Tambanum Village, located in the Middle Sepik River region of Papua New Guinea. This piece was acquired directly from the Ron Perry Arizona Room collection. Created by the Iatmul people of Tambanum Village—highly renowned for their sophisticated woodcarving traditions—masks of this style serve as powerful conduits for ancestral spirits, used during ritual ceremonies, dances, and to protect the community from malicious spiritual influences.
This large, powerful example is hand-carved from a single piece of indigenous hardwood and features a highly stylized ancestor face merging into a prominent crocodile tongue motif at the base, decorated with rich natural earth pigments and woven plant fiber accents. The crocodile represents a foundational totem animal in Sepik creation mythology, symbolizing supreme strength and tribal lineage.
The mask was field-collected by Ron Perry, a globally renowned expert and one of the most respected Pacific tribal art authorities of the 20th century. Beginning his expeditions in 1964, Perry spent over 40 years traveling by canoe up remote waterways and trekking unmapped terrains to collect authentic pieces directly from traditional clans. His credibility in the field is unmatched: following Papua New Guinea's independence in 1975, the PNG National Cultural Council appointed him to manage Village Arts, their government-run indigenous artifact center.
This is an outstanding display piece with excellent scale, striking concentric facial designs, and authentic character, making it an exceptional addition to any collection of Oceanic, ethnographic, or tribal art.
Item Details:
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Object: Ancestral Spirit Mask
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Culture: Iatmul
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Village: Tambanum Village
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Region: Middle Sepik River, Papua New Guinea
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Period: Mid to Late 20th Century
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Dimensions: 32" H × 9.5" W × 4.5" D (81.3 × 24.1 × 11.4 cm)
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Materials: Indigenous hardwood, natural earth pigments (ochre, clay, charcoal), and woven plant fiber bast
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Provenance: Acquired directly from the Ron Perry Arizona Room collection
Condition Note: This piece exhibits authentic, stable aging, beautiful native patination, and minor fiber wear consistent with age and/or traditional use. Please review all photographs carefully, as they are an important part of the description.
This is available for local pick-up. Shipping can be available for this item. Please contact us for a custom quote or to make arrangements.
