A RARE NEW GUINEA MASK, yamburai parak, of oval concave form, with long pointed beak-like nose which is pierced horizontally (top chipped), a carved zigzag ridge below the small pierced eyes, two engraved ovals on the shallow chin, pierced twice each side for retention, dark glossy patina with some remains of red pigments, minor vestiges of termite erosion, from the Mambe or Terebu area

Details

A RARE NEW GUINEA MASK, yamburai parak, of oval concave form, with long pointed beak-like nose which is pierced horizontally (top chipped), a carved zigzag ridge below the small pierced eyes, two engraved ovals on the shallow chin, pierced twice each side for retention, dark glossy patina with some remains of red pigments, minor vestiges of termite erosion, from the Mambe or Terebu area
48.5cm. high

Lot Essay

Dirk Smidt relates that Aufenanger photographed similar masks in the Mambe area (about 25km. inland south-east of Wewak), from whence the style spread to the coast and even the Schouten Islands. He tells us that the mask is associated with parak, a mythical being, who promotes successful hunts and performs at boys' initiation ceremonies, amongst other activities. (See Smidt, 1990, p. 230, where he illustrates an almost identical mask, cat. no. 87).

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