Two Old Wosera Yam Masks – Brilliant Colours, Strong Provenance Offered for auction are two rare Wosera yam masks from East Sepik, Papua New Guinea. These masks were traditionally used to decorate the largest yams after the harvest. The most impressive yams were honoured during a ceremony in which families expressed gratitude to the parents and ancestors for a successful harvest. Both masks display brilliant, vibrant colours and show authentic signs of ritual use, adding to their cultural and ethnographic value. They were collected in Australia in the 1970s and have since remained in a private collection. Wosera yam masks of this age and quality have become increasingly scarce, as many traditional ceremonies have disappeared. This is an exceptional opportunity for museums, serious collectors, and admirers of Sepik art. Origin: Wosera, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea Provenance: Collected in Australia in the 1970s; private collection Condition: Good, with traces of ritual use Highlights: Rare; vivid colours; strong ethnographic character Condition: Excellent patina, minor age wear consistent with use Packed with care Sending worldwide Sold by Koos Knol, ethnographer and anthropologist, dealer of Papua Tribal Art for more than 30 years, expert and author of the book “Papua Blues”, written in Dutch. (Maybe in English next year.)  Published end of October 2024 A book about inside stories, a book that deals with the many encounters with special people in West Papua, the impressive experiences that the author has, about special encounters with men and women who tell him about secret things, about ethnographic objects and initiate him into the rituals and ceremonies. A must have for collectors, ethnographers, ethnologists, anthropologists and museums   Google:Papua Blues Koos Knol