RESIN PAINTED OVER MODELED ANCESTRAL SHAMAN TROPHY SKULL P.N.G.

Description

This over modeled skull is a funerary ritual object from the Middle Sepik River area in Papua New Guinea and can be witnessed up-close in the Bowers’ ongoing exhibition Spirits and Headhunters: Art of the Pacific Islands. Chilling and hauntingly unique, this example of Melanesian culture was not created in an artisanal vacuum, but rather took on subjectivity in a complex series of negotiations and processes between the worlds of the living and the dead and between the individual and society. The over modeling process was not an end in itself but a mediary between a primary and secondary burial of the deceased’s remains, further complicated by sets of mourning rituals, ranging from the celebratory to the silent.
The over modeling process, examples of which can be seen all over the world across the ages, is part of a particularly rich and captivating tradition in the South Pacific islands that begins surprisingly not immediately after death, but after the body has been processed through the village and mourned for the first time, and buried for a variable period of time. After the grave is opened, the actual human skull that is simultaneously hidden and echoed by the red clay, shells, white pigment, and actual human hair that adorn it, is cleaned and prepared to receive the treatment. The transformation from a literal bone white skeletal canvas back into the fleshy likeness of the deceased is not carried out by kin, but by the most able artisan, a choice that reflects this culture’s appreciation for skill and distinguished craftsmanship. The clay and bone—the soft and hard, masculine and feminine coming together represents life’s opposites and the experience in everyday life. Finally, the finished over modeled skull, the final design of which is believed to be approved by the deceased himself, is carried through the village and mourned yet again in a variety of ways. The diversity and complexity of Melanesian funerary rites and the over modeled skulls that figure so prominently in them are but one of the reasons that make the cultures of the South Pacific so intriguing to so many.
This life size human skull is a copy from an original skull, the skull decoration has been sourced from Borneo and P.N.G. to keep the skull as authentic looking as possible with a porcupine quill going through the nose. The modeling has been done using traditional clay's and tree resin. If you have a special want please contact me, I also have many other skulls for sale, check out my other items.
STAND NOT INCLUDED!
PLEASE NOTE THE SKULLS IS NOT REAL!
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Sadly t
he Thai postal service now charges .00 a kilo by air, land sea is a lot cheaper but takes longer. Before this Covid virus Thai post had an economy air service that they no longer do so airmail is a lot more expensive but much quicker.
Due to the size, shape and being slightly fragile, some pieces will have to be specially wrapped, boxed and insured for loss only which shows in the shipping cost, I do not intend to take any chances with these pieces, better safe than sorry, it would be heart breaking to think it arrived broken and deserves looking after.
I LIST NEW ITEMS EVERY WEEK, CHECK OUT MY WEIRD AND WONDERFUL ITEMS UP FOR AUCTION.
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Shipping from Thailand can take between 14 to 28 days depending on the postal service and area so please be patient.
Thai post will not ship to Brazil, Spain or The Russian Federation and many other eastern block countries so I can only use EMS which is about double the shipping rate quoted but twice as quick taking between 7-10 days. So please contact me first for a quote before you buy.
I do my best to bring you unique and sometimes very rare items. I can sell you an item, wrap it as carefully as I can and then ship it to you. I cannot control what Thai post charges for shipping or tell you the exact time it takes to arrive to you, and can only give you a rough idea from past dealings, I have no control what so ever over any postal service's or U.S. customs.
I use bubble wrap and other packing to cushion each item from possible mishandling during shipping. If for any reason, the item is broken, please email within 24 hours along with pictures of the broken item, original box inside and outside.
I try to take good photos with different angles, I also put all the information I know about the piece on the page including Height and Width,  I do not charge for the box and wrapping which is also expensive here as it has to be imported.