Early 20th Century Love Charm, Lower Sepik River. Ex Alex Bernand, London

A beautiful realistic Flying Fox Sculpture. Ex Alex Bernand, London, Ex Private Collection, Belgium. During my research I found that the function of these sculptures is as a Love Charm, The American Anthropologist, Albert Lewis, revealed that they would be hung above a bed magically making someone to fall in love with owner of the object. Similar Examples though older are visible in Richard Neuhauss' Deutsch Neu-Guinea, Band 1 who collected one circa 1910 and a similar example lot 99 Christie's Tribal Art 18 March 1980. Some cracking due to wear and tear and old loss of the full suspension lug, though there is a lug hole of sorts suggesting continual ritual use.
Price on request.