An ancient and very beautiful bandi na iavo initiate's lime container decorated with its perfectly preserved carved stopper. Lime vessels with sumptuously carved stoppers such as this one were offered to young initiates at the end of their period of seclusion, which was essential for initiation, and with which they presented themselves in all their finery before the members of the village on the dance floor. The mythological motif of a bird whose curved tail ends in a crocodile's head and in whose wings a mask can be hidden, is characteristic of the arts of the Middle Sepik and is repeated in other examples such as the sublime lime vessel in the Linden Museum in Stuttgart (inv. 61718) and exhibited in Paris at the Musée du Quai Branly during the major exhibition Sepik Arts of Papua New Guinea (and reproduced on page 246 of the catalog fig 124, Skira Musée du Quai Branly 2015). Middle Sepik, Papua New Guinea Wood, bamboo, basketry, relics of pigment and vegetable fiber cord, very beautiful and old patina of use. H. 55 cm in total and 22 cm only for the carved stopper (without basketry) Provenance: - Collected by Pierre Langlois and Marcel Évrard in 1959-60 - Former collection Marcel Evrard Exhibition and Publication : Oceania at CRACAP (National Center of Research of Animation and Creation for the Plastic Arts) in 1971 fig.21 reproduced in full page.