A small, almost pocket size headrest. The four heads represent ancestors and provided protection and advice to their owner. One has a pierced septum. A pierced lug at each end of the neck-bar is for the carrying string and the outer edge of the bar is incised along one side. Lower Sepik River, PNG, Melanesia. Stone carved wood with a thick red ocher patina. 12.5 x 9.8 x 8 x 12.5 cm. 19/20th century. Ex coll. : Private collection, Holland. Inv. N° Et/019, H, & undecipherable indications with remains of an old label on the underside. Ill.: Meyer, Anthony JP.: OCEANIC HEADRESTS / APPUIE-NUQUE OCEANIENS. Catalogue d'exposition. Galerie Meyer, Paris. 2004, N° 15.

Ref.: Meyer, Anthony JP.: OCEANIC HEADRESTS / APPUIE-NUQUE OCEANIENS. Catalogue d'exposition. Galerie Meyer, Paris. 2004.