A Superb Old New Guinea Ceremonial House Gable Mask Middle Sepik River Area Papua New Guinea

A Superb Old New Guinea Ceremonial House Gable Mask Middle Sepik River Area Papua New Guinea

This superb old Gable Mask was made to put under the eves of the front facade of a large Ceremonial House Tambaran from where it looked out over the village. These large and impressive ceremonial houses are a major architectural wonder for which the middle Sepik River area is famous. This finely carved and ochre-painted mask is made from a single piece of hardwood and it has shell eyes. This Mask is a powerful artwork that shows the great artistry of Sepik River artists’

Provenance: Collected in 1965-1966 by the Geologist Peter Austin. Part of Austin’s collection was sold to the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto and published in the book “New Guinea: Big Man Island” by ES Rogers, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto Canada 1970 where they remain today but Austin kept the finest artworks for his own collection like this Gable Mask until later the collection was sold to me. 

The Todd Barlin Collection of Oceanic Art

See the photo above of an example of the Middle Sepik River ceremonial house Tambaran from  “Kulthauser in Nordneuguinea by Brigitta Hauser-Schaublin, Page 401.”

I first went to Papua New Guinea in 1985 for an adventure & what I found was that I really enjoyed being with the people of New Guinea, over the next 38 years I spent extensive time spent collecting and documenting traditional art & ceremonies in remote areas of Papua New Guinea & West Papua, The Solomon Islands & Vanuatu & the other Pacific Islands countries. During these travels, I made major collections of New Guinea & Oceanic Art for major Museums and Public Art Galleries

I was honoured by being in the prestigious Louvre Museum Magazine for the collections I made for The Museum of African & Oceanic Art Paris in 1996 (now the Musee Quai Branly) for the exhibition “Asmat et Mimika d’ Irian Jaya April 1996 At THE MUSEE NATIONAL des ARTS D’AFRIQUE et d’ OCEANIE, Paris

See all of the links & photos in my new EXHIBITIONS GALLERY and there is the link to the article in the prestigious Louvre Magazine 1996

I have artwork for Museums & Art Galleries but also for collectors at every stage of their collecting. I want to encourage people to explore the fine art of New Guinea & West Papua and the Pacific Islands and to be able to see and touch the artworks in a relaxed and friendly manner in my Sydney Gallery.  I would like to invite you to visit my gallery and see the artworks in person and also look at my website www.oceanicartsaustralia.com  where there are many Galleries & Sub Galleries to explore.

My Gallery of nearly 40 years is the last physical gallery in Sydney that specialises in New Guinea & Oceanic Art. Sydney is just a couple hours’ flight to New Guinea & the Pacific Islands where all of these amazing artworks came from, Australia’s closest neighbours.

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If you have a similar “object” for sale please contact me for the best price and honest advice by a Government approved valuer 

To see many more rare items and the finest masterpieces, please make an appointment with us to visit the gallery.

For all inquiries, please contact us.