Rare Tumbuan long-nose mask from Papua New Guinea. This antique woven piece is sometimes used for the yam ceremonies, but most often found hanging from the gables of long houses to ward off bad spirits. It is composed of handwoven cane in natural pigments including brown and terracotta, circular eyes and an open mouth with a long mosquito tongue protruding. The muted earth tone colors would complement a wide range of interiors from Coastal Modern, Tropical... to Boho or Industrial/Loft. The size would lend itself to placement in a residential, commercial or hospitality setting.
A hard-to-find, authentic, ritually used tribal artifact collected on location during the 1960s and is now displayed on a solid metal stand recently powder coated a high gloss black. It would add interest to a public or private collection.
Place of Origin: Sepik River Region, Papua New Guinea (PNG)
Date of Manufacture: 1950s-1960s
Condition: Excellent
Wear: Consistent with age and use. Please refer to pictures.
Dimensions:
Mask: 17 in. H X 18 in. W X 34.5 in. D
Base: 10 in. W X 8 in. W X 1 in. H
Total: 26 in. H
Provenance:
This amazing Oceanic mask from Papua New Guinea has been part of the private collection of Dean Warner since he purchased it in-person on-location during the 1960s. Mr. Warner (1931-2025) was a graduate of both Mexico City College and Thunderbird and a noted dealer in Pre-Columbian & Tribal Artifacts. He had galleries in Dallas, Texas and La Jolla, California, a client base that included private individuals and institutions, and served as an authority for authentication. In addition, events during the 1960s and 1970s were held to showcase his Pre-Columbian collection across the United States in retail establishments like Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Shillito's and Higbee's among others.
In retirement, Mr. Warner (T-Bird '57) continued to be an avid collector and served both as the Art Curator for the Thunderbird School of Global Management (now part of Arizona State University) and the Creator/Director of the The Global Market for ethnographic art and gifts which was founded in 1994. Many of the items he collected are now part of the permanent collection of the university.
Reference:
Folk Art Museum of Central Texas
Arizona State University News: In war and peace, Thunderbird School is all business
Arizona Memory Project: Thunderbird Global Market
Shipping Note: Due to the size of this piece and weight of the art stand, it will need custom handling and packaging. Contact us for a quote.
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