Porpora Mask

Mask

Adjirab people

Porpora River Region, Low Sepik Region, PNG, Melanesia

Pig skull frontal bone, plant fibers, and cassowary feathers, with a fine patina of age and use

Height: 23 cm excluding feathers

Provenance: Henri Descazeaux. Subsequently by descent and is part of a set of African, Oceanic and American art objects acquired by Mr. Descazeaux from Parisian tribal art galleries in the 1950s/60s (Ratton, Leloup...), but also from private individuals, including André Fourquet, a friend of the family.

Subsequently misidentified as coming from Timor and offered for sale as such (see Osenat - Les Curiosités De Breteuil, 22 May 2024, lot 191) Collected in the field by Pierre J. Langlois (1927-2015) and Marcel Évrard (1920 2009) in 1959-60.

Object Presented by:
Anthony J.P. Meyer
T.: + 33 (0) 6 80 10 80 22