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Mask with descending bird, Mwai (?), 19th–early 20th century
Wood, pigment
48.3 x 14 x 10.5 cm (19 x 5 1/2 x 4 1/8 in.)
The Marcia and John Friede Collection, a Promised Gift to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco L05.1.222

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Artist Biography: (none) PROVENANCE: "Pierre Loeb Collection, Paris." (Catalog #254, New Guinea Art: Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede, 2005, Volume 2, p. 122.) PUBLICATIONS: 2005 - "This mask was probably worn attached to a conical basketry structure called mwai sawa (see Coiffier, 2001: 55, top fig., 197, fig. 122). Both the mask and the masked figure are called tumbuan in Melanesian Pidgin. The Chambri and the Iatmul iconographies are very closely related. While this mask may pre-date the Iatmul conquest (see pl. 252), it incorporates the Iatmul mwai form and pattern of facial paint. A similar mask, formerly in the Musée de l'Homme, (MH5576377), is now at the Musée Quai Branly, Paris." (Catalog #254, New Guinea Art: Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede, 2005, Volume 2, p. 122.) 1977 - Loudmer auction, Paris, Dec. 3, 1977, the Loeb sale, lot 33.

Related Keywords
Mwai bird descending with Mask Francisco San Museums Arts Fine Gift Promised 122 p 2 Volume 2005 Friede John Marcia Jolika Masterpieces Art 254 Catalog Paris Loeb Pierre people Lake Chambri Oceania Province Sepik East Guinea New Papua Melanesia Sculpture pigment Wood 0709200406050362 A361137 L05.1.222 AOA