Side Element from a Sculpture for Malagan Ceremony, New Ireland

Herz-Jesu Mission Museum, Münster-Hiltrup
Kevin Conru, Brussels
Abraham Rosman and Paula Rubel, New York, acquired from the above on February 5, 2009

Like the preceding lot the present sculptural element was part of the elaborate ritual artwork used in New Ireland malagan ceremonies, which incorporate human and animal iconography in abstract geometric compositions. Colorful and elaborate, this example depicts a flying fish descending upon a bird-man, standing within an ornate and rhythmic matrix of openwork and was perhaps conceived as an element of a larger mask.