A superb Malagan mask side plank, New Ireland, Papua New Guinea

the plaque with openwork feathers behind a human half-figure in high relief with a coiffure of inserted palm spathe covered in lime, and a vertical shark figure below; '54.339' in red pigment, pencil and stamped on front and side; fine aged surface with red, brown, blue and white pigment.

Presumably Giovanni Bettanin, Singapore, by ca. 1890
Magyar Nemzeti Muzeum (Hungarian National Museum), Budapest, acquired ca. 1897-1898
Neprajzi Museum (Ethnographic Museum), Budapest, by transfer from the above in 1947 (accession no. '54.339')
Emile Deletaille, Brussels, acquired from the above through exchange in 1972
Acquired from the above on June 18, 1984 (invoice no. '18684')

Galerie Deletaille, Brussels, Oceanic Art from the Ethnographic Museum Budapest, 1972

Tibor Bodrogi, Oceania muveszete a Magyar Nemzeti Muzeum Neprajzi Muzeum gyujtemenyeben, Budapest, 1959, pl. 97

Tibor Bodrogi, Oceanian Art, Budapest, 1961, pl. 97

Tibor Bodrogi, L'Art de l'Oceanie, Paris, 1961, pl. 97

Good condition overall. Minor loss to the tips of the plaque; slight abrasions from age and use within the culture; on the reverse traces of two old labels with glue remaining.
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