Ramu Valley Mask

Ramu mask, of hollowed, ovoid form with intricate incised and…
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Ramu mask, of hollowed, ovoid form with intricate incised and raised decoration to face, pierced eyes and mouth. Coloured with red, black and white natural pigments. Wooden cross bar attached with fibre to back. Dry patina. Ramu river Valley, Papua New Guinea. Height 74 cm. Width 26 cm

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  • Incised - A record of a name, date or inscription, or a decoration scratched into a surface, usually of a glass or ceramic item with a blunt instrument to make a coarse indentation. Compare with engraving where the surface is cut with a sharp instrument such as a metal needle or rotating tool to achieve a fine indentation.
  • Patination / Patina - In broad terms, patination refers to the exterior surface appearance of the timber, the effect of fading caused by exposure to sunlight and air over the course of a century or more, changing the piece to a soft, mellow colour.

    As patina is very difficult to replicate, it is one of the most important guides to determining the age of furniture.

    Patina is also the term applied to the bloom or film found on old bronzes due to oxidisation.
  • Oviform /ovoid - The outline loosely resembling the shape of an egg.

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