Oceania, Papua New Guinea, Sepik River, Yangoru Boiken peoples, ca. mid-20th century CE. Wow! A rare and exceptional woven mask of the Talipun type, a ritual form of money used as a bride price. Woven of native bark and embellished with clay in hues of coffee brown, creamy beige, and russet, this remarkable vizard presents a heart-shaped visage with a pair of annular eye holes, a narrow nose with an aperture at its septum possibly for suspending ornaments, and a petite, ovoid mouth. Lovely bird feathers adorn the top of this intriguing mask, while an enormous, marbled turban shell (turbo marmoratus) in lustrous shades of gray and cream sits at its chin. Size: 8" W x 15.125" H (20.3 cm x 38.4 cm); 17.5" H (44.4 cm) on included custom stand.Talipun or Talipoon is a traditional currency of high importance to the Yangoru Boiken people that is often used to pay a bride's dowry. These fascinating masks usually represent the visage of an ancestor or a bush spirit. The gorgeous shells strung to their bases are considered objects of great wealth to the Yangoru Boiken people. Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping. #135676