A Sepik River adze

A Sepik River adze

Papua New Guinea

the handle with five carved masks, one being janus, to a janus head finial, rattan bound and with traces of red pigment, inscribed in yellow NEW GUINEA. WBSTR. 1898. and in white 4290, blade missing,

47cm long.

Provenance

William Dowling Webster (1868 - 1913)

Lieut. Gen. Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers (1827 - 1900), purchased from the above 8th June 1898.

Mrs Stella Pitt-Rivers.

Sotheby's, London, Primitive Works of Art, 30th March 1981, Lot 63, part.

See The Database for Pitt-Rivers's ''Second' Collection, Volume 6 page 1981 / 2 (B) being recorded as purchased from Webster on 8th June 1898 for £3.10.0 and displayed In Farnham Museum Room 7, case 60 or 61. The record includes a detailed watercolour of the adze.