Amulet Mask

Murik Lakes, lower Sepik River region, Papua New Guinea
Early 20th c.

Provenance: Marcia and John Friede collection, Rye. Deb Glasser, Boston

This exquisite miniature amulet mask hails from the Lower Sepik region and was originally designed to be suspended through a small, intricately pierced hole at the crown of its head. Carved with non-metal tools and bearing the marks of great antiquity, this mask possesses an allure through its captivating facial features, exuding a subtle but palpable intensity.

With painstaking craftsmanship, the mask’s arrow-shaped nose, adorned with a striking ornament, and its deeply set, fierce eyes are distinctive hallmarks of the Lower Sepik tradition. The remnants of red ochre pigment, still discernible, play a crucial role in delineating and enhancing its expressiveness.