Small Mask

PoraPora River region, Papua New Guinea
Early 20th c

Provenance: Marcia and John Friede Collection, Rye, New York

Terracotta artifacts were crafted across the Lower Sepik region, primarily serving utilitarian needs, yet some were dedicated to ceremonial and ritualistic practices. This terracotta mask bears resemblance to the snow goggles crafted by the Inuits of the Arctic. Its three-dimensional facial features—eyes and nose—jut outward, with the nose notably extending outwards, featuring distinctive nostrils and several piercings along its sides, perhaps intended for attachments.