MASQUE, ÎLE PENTECÔTE, ARCHIPEL DES VANUATU |

Loudmer, Paris, 19 juin 1980, n° 202
Collection privée, acquis lors de cette vente

Very good condition overall. As visible on the catalogue illustration, there is a major crack on the right side of the face running from the forehead to the eye, another one on the nose and one on the left side of the lower lip. On the proper left side of the face, there is a crack running from the forehead to the nose and some small ones on the forehead. All of them are stable. There is a loss on the left side of edge Wear consistent with use and age within the culture. Beautiful black patina encrusted at some places.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Parmi les masques juban / chubwan du sud de l'île de Pentecôte et du nord-est de Malakula (archipel du Vanuatu) aujourd'hui répertoriés co-existent deux types :
- le premier au visage étroit dont le front constitue la plus grande largeur, les joues creuses, la bouche en amande. A ce type se rattachent en particulier l'exemplaire conservé au Museum für Völkerkunde de Bâle, collecté par Felix Speiser durant sa célèbre expédition de 1910-1912 (n° Vb 4561); celui provenant de la collection George Ortiz (Sotheby's, Londres, 29 juin 1978, n° 119), et les deux masques collectés par le Révérend Alexander Morton (Sotheby's, New York, 17 novembre 2006, n° 234 et Sotheby's, Paris, 11 juin 2008, n° 57).
- le second, tout aussi rare, diffère du précédent par la construction du visage en très large ovale, les lèvres fendues s'étirant du menton jusqu'aux tempes comme ici. A ce type se rattachent en particulier un autre masque collecté par Speiser entre 1910 et 1912, également conservé au Museum für Völkerkunde de Bâle (n°Vb. 4560), et celui présenté à l'exposition Mélanésie, Galerie Burawoy, en 1976. Peu documentés et relevant de traditions aujourd'hui disparues, ces masques jouaient vraisemblablement un rôle important au sein des rituels Tebat na Lobune rappelant le lien sacré entre les hommes et les ignames, et lors du passage au grade le plus élevé des hommes initiés (Huffman in Bonnemaison, Vanuatu, 1996, p. 23 et 24).

Si chacun offre une sculpture très individualisée, tous partagent les mêmes caractéristiques formelles, et une patine profonde attestant leur grande ancienneté. Au sein de ce restreint corpus ce masque s’affirme par le contraste magistral entre les aplats et les volumes projetés en haut-relief, notamment l’imposant nez.

Among the currently recorded Juban / Chubwan masks of the southern part of Pentecost Island and north-eastern Malakula (Vanuatu archipelago) two types exist:

one with a narrow face and the forehead as their widest part; the cheeks are hollow, the mouth almond-shaped. Of particular relevance within this style are the mask kept at the Museum für Völkerkunde in Basel, collected by Felix Speiser during his famous 1910-1912 expedition (No. Vb 4561); the mask from the George Ortiz collection (Sotheby's, London, 29 June 1978, No. 119), and the two masks collected by Reverend Alexander Morton (Sotheby's, New York, 17 November 2006, No. 234 and Sotheby's, Paris, 11 June 2008, No. 57). The second type is equally rare, but differs from the former in the construction of the face as a very wide oval, with parted lips stretching from the chin to the temples as is the case here. Notable within this style is another mask collected by Speiser between 1910 and 1912 in the Museum für Völkerkunde in Basel (no. Vb. 4560), and the one displayed during the Melanesia exhibition at the Burawoy Gallery, in 1976.

Little documented and belonging to traditions that have now disappeared, these masks probably played an important role in the Tebat na Lobune rituals celebrating the sacred bond between men and yams, and in the transition of initiated men to the highest status (Huffman in Bonnemaison, Vanuatu, 1996, pp. 23 and 24). Although each one is very individualized in its carving and appearance, all share similar formal characteristics, and a deep patina attesting to their great age. Within this limited corpus, this mask stands out for the masterful contrast between planes and volumes projected in high relief, especially the imposing nose.