Rare Old Tribal Ramu Hunter Wooden Amulet Mask Oceanic Art Papua New Guinea 13B8

This miniature Ramu mask comes from the Ramu River region of Papua New Guinea and was a hunting charm stored in the hunter’s bilum bag to insure a successful hunt while in the field. 

Item 13B8, size: 7,5" X 3,5" X 3"

While too small to have been used as primary (worn on face) masks in ceremonies and initiations, miniature Ramu masks from the remote Ramu River region of Papua New Guinea are often attached to larger costumes when they have a hole to hang them from on the top, or used as a house ornament.

In this one’s case, since there is no place to attach it or hang it from, no hole on the top that is, it means it was a talisman or charm carried during hunts in the warrior’s bilum bag, to insure a successful hunt.

Among the men's work is included the house carpentry and the fashioning of implements and weapons or large wooden food bowls. These are almost always well made, not withstanding the relatively crude implements including stone adzes and drills and the shark skin rasps and polishes which are used to produce works of carved delicate grace.

Carvers often sat under the shade of a frangipani tree chewing betel nut (buai). They blew the red resulting spittle onto the carvings, let it dry and then rubbed the color in with their hands to create a patina. This spitting is actually a traditional form of ritual activity in New Guinea and, in a ceremonial context, increases the power of the carving.

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All our collector and rare items come with pages and pages of research about provenance, and with history of the tribes and photos as well, depending on item and whenever possible. When shipping internationally, we group ship multiple purchases to save you money, and find the best rates which often fails to calculate right. If you have any questions or want to see research conducted on this piece and photos of tribes, email or call us.

We have artifacts and architectural accents up to 10 ft tall that we will put on upon request because shipping has to be calculated accordingly with trucking company.