Big Bro Tiki please Identify this MELANESIAN tiki mask - Collecting Tiki

B bigbrotiki Tiki Socialite Tiki Island, above the Silverlake Joined: Mar 25, 2002 Posts: 11621	B bigbrotiki Posted posted on Tue, Aug 23, 2005 10:35 PM Arrgh. Unfortunately I am sitting in my Hotel apartment near Munich now, and do not have the benefit of my huge Oceanic Arts library in my house in Silverlake, but my first impression (and I do not want to be a downer) is that what we have here is one of those mass produced Indonesian/Philippines World market import soap and candle store masks (does THAT sufficiently define the genre :) ) These incessant generic carvings are even flooding the tourist stalls in Hawaii now, so I would not be surprised if they are sold in Australia as New Guinea masks. We would not want to let this be known to the boss, naturally, so it should have a hook where it can hung quickly in the home lounge, if he visits. Then again, I might be dead wrong...but those pursed lips are very Asian looking to me.

Arrgh. Unfortunately I am sitting in my Hotel apartment near Munich now, and do not have the benefit of my huge Oceanic Arts library in my house in Silverlake, but my first impression (and I do not want to be a downer) is that what we have here is one of those mass produced Indonesian/Philippines World market import soap and candle store masks (does THAT sufficiently define the genre :) )

These incessant generic carvings are even flooding the tourist stalls in Hawaii now, so I would not be surprised if they are sold in Australia as New Guinea masks.

We would not want to let this be known to the boss, naturally, so it should have a hook where it can hung quickly in the home lounge, if he visits.

Then again, I might be dead wrong...but those pursed lips are very Asian looking to me.

Post #181520 by bigbrotiki on Tue, Aug 23, 2005 10:35 PM