ERA: Early 20th Century

DIMENSIONS: W 17in. X H 13in. X D 2.75in. Shadowbox framed

MEDIUM: Painted Fiber, Basketry

ORIGIN: Abelam People, Papua New Guinea, Prince Alexander Mountains, Middle Sepik River region

"One of the major focuses of ceremonial life among the Abelam people of northeast New Guinea is the competitive growth and exchange of long yams. The Abelam cultivate two distinct categories of yams—a small variety used as ordinary food and long yams, massive tubers that can be as much as twelve feet long. A man’s social status is determined largely by his success in growing long yams. Each man has a permanent exchange partner to whom he ceremonially presents his largest yams following the annual harvest, later receiving those of his rival in return. Men who are consistently able to give their partners longer yams than they receive gain great prestige. Lavishly adorned for the presentation ceremony, the finest long yams are essentially transformed into human images, decorated in the manner of men in full ceremonial regalia. The “heads” of the enormous tubers are adorned with specially made yam masks such as this one, which are made exclusively for yams and are never worn by humans."

REFERENCES

Kjellgren, Eric. Oceania: Art of the Pacific Islands in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York and New Haven: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2007, 29, 65-6.

Please Note that all items are in original antique and vintage condition, they have been preserved at their found state and have purposefully not been restored to maintain their own unique and personal history. We believe that each imperfection tells a story. - L'uomo Curioso