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Hôtel des Ventes de Troyes

55 - Garra crocheted mask - Romkun - Ramu river - Papua New Guine…
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Estimate €600 - €800
Sale commission
Description
Garra crocheted mask - Romkun - Ramu river - Papua New Guinea - Provenance: Former Guy Seghers collection (Belgium). Collected in Papua New Guinea between 1970 and 1980 during scientific missions linked to the Leopold III Biological Station on Laing Island. Archives and period photographs preserved. Dimensions: H. 70 cm - Materials: Wood An elongated hook mask carved from a narrow plank of wood, its slender silhouette animated by a succession of recesses evoking superimposed hooks. At the centre is a stylised face with reduced features: a circular eye in relief, a straight nose and a discreetly indicated mouth, set in a deep indentation that gives the whole a remarkable graphic strength. The composition is based on alternating full and empty spaces, typical of ceremonial pieces from the Ramu basin. The tapering upper end continues the vertical momentum of the sculpture, while the jagged edge accentuates its dynamic, almost abstract appearance. These masks were kept in ceremonial houses, where they were used to evoke the ancestors and protective spirits of the clan. Their distinctive silhouette was an important part of the ritual décor and the local symbolic system. The surface has an old black patina, with signs of wear and age consistent with prolonged use in a ceremonial context.
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About the sale ARTS OF AFRICA & OCEANIA: Three exceptional family collections
Auction location
Auction time 06/22/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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