Massive Expressive New Britain Tolai House Mask

Description

Massive Expressive New Britain Tolai House Mask
Origin: Melanesia, Tolai people (Provenance:  Ex Collection by George Alan Solem, Curator of the Field Museum in Chicago.  Field collected in the mid 1970s when he was studying the varied mollusks on the island)
Period/Date: second half of the 20th C.
Materials: wood, Natural earth pigments
Description: This HUGE
expressive
plank mask with smiling exposed teeth is transitional in style, yet retains the essence and soul of the Tolai material culture.  It was an exterior house mask that likely communicated tribe, clan and
affiliation.  It shows weathering and exposure yet retains much of its original bold red, white, blue and yellow pigments.  There are two pierced hanging holes on the sides of the upper head.  Note there is also a pierced hole on the bottom third above the concentric circle that appears to be an "arrow hole" (almost positive).   Sure to be a focal point in any room or collection.
Dimensions:  Height 44”, width 16"