DS22 Iatmul Overmodelled Ancestor Skull Sepik Province.
$3,350.00
Item No. . DS22
Description . Overmodelled Ancestor Skull from the Iatmul people of the mid Sepik with Cassowary Feathers Hair, shellwork and overmodeled with a paste of red clay, lime and tigasso oil. The skull also has a shellwork beard. Over modelling of skulls of was once a common practice for both the Iatmul, Abelam and also the Sawos people. These decorated skulls were generally of identifiable ancestors or important Clan members and great care was taken to produce a lifelike representation of the deceased’s face.The skulls served as a tangible connection between the living and their ancestors which was fundamentally rooted in the belief of the cyclical nature of life and death. They are not decorative objects but have strong spiritual and social roles.
Size . cm ( “)
Price . USD$3350
