A large, old ancestor mask from the Lower Sepik. Made of hard wood, with a high forehead, small, round eyes, a protruding hook nose with pierced septum, with a small, ‘smiling’ mouth and a long chin with a button-like projection.
On the front side, the mask displays convincing, very old, thick, red brown patina with age-related gloss on exposed areas (forehead, nose).
The reverse, too, shows old usage patina with shiny areas (borders and chin).
In addition, an old, handwritten inventory note is visible at the back on the inside, which reads as follows:
‘I. C. 6115. 20 Meilen - Ins. Dr. Bässler.’ Written in black letters, with ink. Next to it, in white letters, the number ‘6115’ is repeated. From these museum inventory inscriptions can be inferred that the famous German ethnologist and patron of the arts, Dr. Arthur Baessler (1857–1907), acquired this mask during his two-year expedition and collecting journey to New Guinea (1887–1889).
As an important patron of the arts, Dr. Arthur Baessler (often spelled ‘Bässler’) donated his comprehensive collections to the ethnological museums in Berlin, Dresden and Stuttgart.
On the grounds of the type of inscription, it seems likely that the item from the Baessler Collection may have been in the Linden Museum in Stuttgart before joining a private collection as result of exchange.
A piece with excellent patina and an old original repair (the hole on the forehead, old and originally glued).
19th century; H: 55.5 cm, W: 25 cm. (ME)

Provenance: Dr. Arthur Baessler, acquired before 1889. Probably Linden Museum, Stuttgart; Swiss private collection; Austrian private collection.

Additional picture:
The handwritten inventory note on the backside of this old mask from the lower Sepik River, in northern New Guinea: ‘I.C. 6115. 20 Meilen-Ins. Dr. Bässler.’ written in black ink. Next to it, in white: ‘6115’
Dr. Arthur Baessler (or Bässler), 1857-1907