RARE WOODEN DOOR (OR WINDOW) FROM SEPIK DELTA - PAPUA Start Price USD 3,500.00 Current Price USD 3,500.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Friday, August 29, 2008 End Time Monday, September 08, 2008 Location Rio de Janeiro See more about 'RARE WOODEN DOOR (OR WINDOW) FROM SEPIK DELTA - PAPUA' Description Item # 34 Name of the Item Rare wooden door (or window) from Sepik Delta – Papua New Guinea Provenance Lower Sepik River. Papua/New Guinea. Reported to be probably from Schouten Islands or Murik Lakes. Materials Wood with minute remains of vibrant painting. Surface waxed. Short Description A superb wooden door (or window) carved with incised relief in both sides: The observe is more detailed and shows geometric and floral patterns surrounding an open work showing two long bird nose men (probably a representation of spirits) dancing or performing a ritual. Beside them, piles of offerings or food. Painting faded. The reverse is intriguingly curious and shows erotic (or even sexual) representations of a seated man with hard phallus and a seated woman with open vulva surrounded by smaller representations of highly stylized vulvas and phallus. It was suggested by a German specialist (living in Hamburg) that this kind of door (or window) could be related to the passage rites of the young people to adulthood and the erotic reference of the inner relief was designed to stimulate the erotic practice of the young during a period of reclusion of community. One detail that seems to confirm the attribution of a Schouten Island artifact is the multi-layered nose of the figures.   As this item seems to be unusual, we are open to the opinion and contribution of the distinguished eBuyers and  we will thank for it. Please, write to pradodemello@hotmail.com   Highlights In fact, it is a NUSEUM PIECE and it is in Brazil for more than 55 years. Due to excessive humidity of Rio de Janeiro, some years ago wax was used to keep the original colors free of fungus and other worms. To some of the pictures (below)  were worked with contrast in order to accentuate the original colors (some faded). And they are still vibrant, lively and besides the incised work, we can notice all minute details of painting. Condition As it is and shown in pictures. We would say: very good. But anyway, we can see some small holes in the lower portion of the piece. The reason is unknown, but they seem to form a rectangle and maybe, some sort of item could be hung or it was a posterior alteration. The outer rim seems to be repaired with some sort of material. Size Item EXTREMELLY  HEAVY  and it will recquire extra care for shipping. Please, contact for shipping cost. The height is H: 32inches ( 82 cm) W:21 inches ( 54 cm) T:  1 ¾ inch ( 4,7 cm) Features A master piece of Oceanic Art Date (or estimated) XIX or XX Century Origin of the item Private Collection in RJ. Acquired in Paris more than 55 years ago. Appraisal value US 15.000.00 eBay value US $ 3.500,00 ( or Best Offer )   Business Information History/background Every item offered by MAT-AC (Mouseîon Antiques Trading & Ashraf Coins) is unconditionally guaranteed to be Genuine and Authentic. We are located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where we have a small shop. From 1996 we started to work as Antique Dealers and we have travelled many times to places related to History and Archaeology, looking for interesting items to sell and pieces for our own collection. From 2002 we work with Archaeological Tours and we travel constantly abroad looking for other items. Also, we collect archaeological artefacts and art works for more than 25 years and part of this collection will be displayed in the Mankind Museum in Rio de Janeiro, which will be inaugurated soon. Payment policy We accept payments through PayPal, Mail order or Bank transfer for Citibank account. All payments are required until 5 days after the end of auction. Shipping information   Shipping WORLDWIDE => Buyer pays shipping costs depending on buyer's requests. Some items can be sent free. Combined Shipping => Multiple items can be combined for a single low shipping cost. Insurance => Optional insurance. Registered Mail => If you would like registered Mail, please let me know as soon as you win the item. Not registered Mail is sent with buyer's risk. Note => For countries like China, Turkey, all Eastern Europe & Central and South America we recommend to send all items with registered Mail for your security. Note 2 => Parcels and Orders to Italy are subject to a high insurance always. Note 3=> The Brazilian Mail is safe and fast, but it is considered expensive. For an item that is not like a letter, we need to send as a parcel in a thick envelope or in a cartoon box and the minimum cost for this is US $ 31.25 to USA. For places as New Zealand, the cost goes to US $ 57. The category of price is from 0 to 1 kilo and from 1 to 2 and etc. So, please, write to pradodemello@hotmail.com to know exactly how much cost. Return policy All illustrations are of the actual item offered here. The authenticity of all pieces is fully guaranteed and comes with our gallery Certificate of Authenticity written guarantee. If the object does not fit the description; just let us know within 10 days after receiving the object. You send the item back in the same conditions and we will return the price you paid (shipping excluded). We will answer your questions as soon as possible. Please write to us. Travels to places of Archaeological significance Also, we organise special tours to places of archaeological and historical significance in travels designed as Courses of Archaeology in loco. With pleasure, we help people to purchase items in places as Damascus, Bucharest, Cusco and other odd places. Then, not only you can visit the place, but you can be assisted to buy good and interesting items.   New Items and Special Collections We are listing items several times a week. We have a big collection of African & Oceanic Primitive Art under our responsibility and we are available to give information upon request. If someone is interest, we can offer the item in eBay. We have a good list of customers and sellers in Brazil and abroad. If you have a special thing in mind, don’t hesitate in asking to us. Please write to: pradodemello@hotmail.com Place a Bid!