Trobriand Island, PNG

24 inches, wood

Here is a rare Massim mask from the Trobriand Islands. The Massim people also populate parts of the Eastern shore of Papua New Guinea. It probably denotes an ancestor spirit. The painting details are unusual as is the design of the nose. I have never seen another one this. Hand carved out of soft wood and painted with natural pigments, it was purchased by Rick Bennet , an Australian collector, in 1980. It doesn’t appear to have been used, but some of the paint has flaked off over the years.