Trumpet
Iatmul,middle Sepik River, Papua New Guinea. 19th century

Provenance: Steyler Mission Museum, Sankt Augustin, Germany
Inventory # 79.6.62
Published: Patterns that Connect, 2017, fig. 13.

Wooden trumpets were often carried into battle and blown after victory to alert members of the village of the war parties return.  This particular example is a very earlier example. It is surmounted with a zoomorphic avian head which transforms into a human face when viewing horizontally.  Below the mouthpiece another human figure is hanging upside down. In excellent condition, with an “untouched” encrusted surface.

Height: 20 ¼ inches / 51.4 cm
IN 3-12-18 / Price on request