A fine Papuan Gulf spirit board, Central Gulf, Probably Wapo or Era; Papua New Guinea
The board of classical form with a face on the upper third and complex curvilinear motifs throughout, the surface covered with dirt over a red field with white highlights and black linear patterns.The board tapering to a narrow point at the bottom. Fine old reverse, probably from an old war canoe. H. 40 1/2"
Comments: Property of a US Private Collector
Provenance: Field collected by the current owner decades ago in Baimuru; Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea