A Superb Talipun Woven Bride Price Yangoru Area East Sepik Papua New Guinea

A Superb Talipun Woven Bride Price from the Yangoru Area in the East Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea

The Yangoru Boiken people live on the isolated southern slopes of the Prince Alexander Mountains in the East Sepik Province of Papuan New Guinea.

The Talipun or Talipoon is one of the most important types of traditional currency for the Yangoru Boiken people, it consists of a fiber mask attached to a large sea shell (in this example the shell is fragmentary).  This example was the finest I had ever owned & I have kept it for 38 years in my home.

The woven fiber masks, often come in different forms that represent important ancestral & or bush spirits that are specific to certain clans.  This mask has an abstracted ancestor’s face and a wood bird’s head attached to the top.  The shells are a pure wealth object.   These are used to pay for the bride dowry’s or other compensation payments and they are still highly valued today in remote communities.

Beautiful old Talipun and Abelam Yam Masks are highly sought by collectors and artists who saw the great artistry in these woven sculptures.  When seen in a set of several masks together you can see how beautiful they look together ( see above photo of Abelam Wood Heads in a row)

This beautiful mask is on a custom-made stand that allows it to float and be easily displayed on a table or shelf.

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of Papua New Guinea Art