New Ireland Mask or Head, having original paint and hair, depicting jumping fish on top as well as black snakes circling the face, small section missing from far right lower side, height 25 1/2 inches, with stand 30 1/2 inches. New Ireland is one of several islands in the Bismarck Archipelago and politically part of Papua New Guinea. These islands were given English names by Carteret in 1767. Most objects in museums and private collections are from the northern half of New Ireland and are associated with the Malagan tradition of funerary art. Malagan is a generic term that describes groups of tribal ceremonies and the various figures, masks, and carvings of painted lime wood (Alstonia sp) associated with them. Statues and masks were carefully carved and painted with black, red, and yellow mineral pigments (the blue color was introduced by Europeans.) Some masks were held in the hand rather than placed over the head. After they were used, they were discarded because the spirit in the object was no longer in it. These tribal ceremonies intrigued western visitors. Richard Parkinson described these as “ceremonies consisting of great feasts and dancing which are performed using head masks.” This mask (or head) was carried by a handle and most likely depicts jumping fish on top as well as black snakes circling the face. (A small section of the snake is missing from the front right side of the mask.) Before the First World War these masks and sculptures fascinated avant-garde artists and intellectuals; while after 1918 the Surrealists in France were instrumental in including several of them in important shows.
Estimate: $10000 - $20000
