Papua New Guinea, Population Iatmul house front mask, Papua - Lot 89

Papua New Guinea, Population Iatmul house front mask, Papua New Guinea. Giant wickerwork mask with rattan core, shell (cowrie) eyes and natural pigmentation on a clay cover. 113.5 cm high. The mask features a round anthropomorphic face with a prominent nose continued upwards by a central ridge. The forehead is raised like a tiara to conceal the fastening system, while at the same time directing the mask downwards when hung (plunging gaze effect). The eyes are highlighted by a cowrie shell pupil and raised eye sockets. The same goes for the smiling mouth. Finally, the chin is exaggeratedly prolonged, evoking an atrophied bust (this play on volume is also reminiscent of the Yena sculptures of the Kwoma populations, neighbors of the Iatmul). The paint applied to the mask draws concentric black circles around the eyes on a white background. Red lines appear to reinforce the visual impact. The mouth, nose and central bridge are outlined in black. The elongated chin is adorned with a repeated pattern of black half-ellipses surrounded by red. All these ornamental and chromatic features are characteristic of Iatmul art. This facade mask is placed over one of the entrances to a house (family or community residence). The house is interpreted as a female body, and the mask turns the façade into a face. The purpose of such a mask is to provide protection for members of the household. Iatmul art, graphically powerful, is brilliantly represented by this piece. The art of the mask is highly sophisticated in Papua, of which this mask is an excellent example in a remarkable state of preservation. Expert : Nicolas Corigliano - Cabinet Corail & Mana Selected bibliography : Myth & Magic. Art of the Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, Crispin HOWARTH, NGA, 2015 ; pp. 132- 133 Sépik. Art de Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinée, Philippe PELTIER (dir.), Musée du Quai Branly & Skira, 2015; p. 158 Corpus for comparison: Humboldt Forum (Berlin), inv. VI 47853