Collection: Collected by John-Paul Maslyn Williams & Helen Williams (further provenance information below)

This beautiful old and unusual dance mask from the Abelam people, Lower Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea.

A very rare and unusual long nosed ceremonial dance mask. The mask has a thin carved nose, splayed eyes, almost evil, with scarification markings. The masks are painted in a most unusual manner, employing traditional. The decorative motives and placement of colors are unexplained and are totally different from all other known color schemes in the area, lower Sepik. A truly one of kind collectors piece.

John worked in PNG between 1966 and 1976. Employed by the Department of Works and Helen for the Department of Forestry. During their time in PNG, John was stationed in a few places, one being Madang, from where he travelled to Admin. outstations, to maintain PWD equipment. He made the acquaintance of a local Patrol Officer who had collected artefacts over the years, many from the Sepik Region, and he invited John often to come see them.

John’s father, Ron Maslyn Williams, had also spent considerable amount of time in PNG too, and in fact wrote and produced the film New Guinea Patrol. https://pngaa.org/site/blog/1999/09/20/vale-september-1999/ Ron’s stories were a major influence on Johns decision to leave Melbourne and seek work in PNG.

Aside from spending time in Madang, John and Helen both spent some time on Kiriwina Island living on a station property, Goosawetaí at Losuia, owned by a retired Forestry officer. The place was originally set up by a European trader. The story goes that this lady decided to improve the cash flow to her trade store. She had a British Museum catalogue, with many pictures of African wood carvings, which she made available to some of the very capable local craftsmen. The station homestead still contained many very large examples of this enterprise. At this time John also did some work for the nearby Catholic Mission. This is where many of the other artefacts were purchased.

- STANDS ARE NOT INCLUDED WITH ANY ITEM –

- Pictures make up part of the description -