A rare Pentecost Island mask, Vanuatu

two old labels on the reverse, the first with the typed number '548050' followed by the handwritten number '06', the second handwritten 'S. PENTECOTE - NEW HEBRIDES (CA. 1830 - SIM. BALE Vb H561'; surface cleaned.

John J. Klejman, New York
Morton and Estelle Sosland, Kansas City, acquired from the above in the 1970s

Fair condition overall; the wooden sculpture, largely intact with the handle underneath the chin missing (old break) and one section of the proper upper right corner of the rim missing; several age cracks, nicks and scratches from handling within the ritual context; two screws inserted into the reverse for mounting; the surface of the mask, originally a crusty black surface has been removed, presumably in an attempt to expose the grain of the wood; such treatment would have been performed after the mask was collected by a western collector and might attest to an early collection history.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Pentecost Island masks such as the offered lot are thought to have been used 'in aspects of rituals relating to the sacred relationship between men and yams' (Huffman in Bonnemaison 1996: 23). Stylistically, the Sosland mask is distinguished by the horizontal folds above the pierced eyes, a feature that has been observed in only two other juban/chubwan masks from south Pentecost, both with very early collection history: the first is preserved in the Museum für Völkerkunde Basel and was collected by Felix Speiser during his important 1910-1912 expedition (inv. no. Vb 4561, illustrated in Stoehr 1971: 188, fig. 448); the second was collected on Malekula Island by the Reverend Alexander Morton between 1887 and 1892 and later in the collection of the Orbost and District Historical Society in Orbost, Australia (Sotheby's, Paris, June 11, 2008, lot 57). The striking similarities of these masks in several key characteristics - bulbous forehead, pierced eyes below horizontal folds, rounded nose with pierced septum, elongated cheeks as well as narrow-lipped mouth - suggest they were carved by the hand of a single artist.