Lot 131
Sepik River Ancestral Spirit Board, Papua New Guinea
Estimate$400–$600
Offered in A Lifetime of Discovery III · Sunday, November 1, 2026, To be announced
A large carved wood ancestral spirit board attributed to the Sepik River region of Papua New Guinea. The elongated panel is centered by a deeply modeled ancestral face with large shell-inlaid eyes, a long projecting nose, pronounced mouth and layered geometric ornament. The surface is decorated in traditional black, white and reddish pigments, with shell and fiber elements adding texture and visual emphasis.
The reverse is flat and fitted with a substantial woven rattan suspension loop, consistent with an architectural or shrine object intended for display within a ceremonial setting rather than use as a wearable mask.
- Size
- 48 in. high.
- Provenance
- Property from an important private collection, assembled by a dealer and collector over more than six decades.
- Condition
- Age-related wear, pigment loss, surface abrasions, fiber losses and scattered damage. A more recent break is visible to a projecting central element. Please refer to photographs.
Estimates are opinions of value, given as a guide.