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Hôtel des Ventes de Troyes

59 - 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. 61 cm - Materials: Wood A rare crochet mask with the slender silhouette characteristic of ceremonial production in the Ramu River region. Carved from a narrow, elongated board, the object has a very vertical shape with tapering ends framing a stylised face in low relief. The features are reduced to the essentials: a nose projected forward, a perforated eye and an open mouth set in a deep cavity. Registers of sculpted chevrons punctuate the composition above and below the face, reinforcing the impression of movement and slenderness. The overall effect is one of great sobriety, where a few powerful volumes are enough to evoke the presence of the spirit represented. These crochet masks were kept in ceremonial houses and were used in rituals linked to ancestors and tutelary spirits. Their distinctive, easily identifiable silhouette is one of the emblematic forms of Middle Ramu sculpture. The beautiful patina of use, the softened edges and the traces of age give this piece a remarkable presence and bear witness to a long ritual history.
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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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