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Wahgi Valley, Western Highlands, Papua New GuineaAn old Waghi Valley war shield. Carved from hard wood in classic deeply curved form; and decorated with trade paint, and pecked motif; bearing the logo “PLP” on the front top. Beautiful wear from age and use on the pigments, with a nicely encrusted patina on both the front and reverse. Minor loss evident on the base; in excellent condition. Height: 154 x 62 cm |
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Gameta Village, Kiriwina Island, Milne Bay Province, Papua New GuineaA fine Massim Canoe tip. In all its glory with prow and splashboard held in place by tight bush string binding. Decorated with vibrant “trade” pigments, the tip and prow covered in incised and raised abstract motif, with two figures at the top centre. Weathered patina from time at sea, with evidence of old pests, which are no longer present. In excellent condition. Circa Mid 20th Century. Mounted on a steel display stand Dimensions (not including stand): 68 x 71 cm or 26.75 x 28 inches. |
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Boiken Area, East Sepik, Papua New GuineaA collection of three figural Boiken food implements. Two spatulas and one pounder; used in the production of sago, and taro, staples of the people of this region. All are carved from hard wood, with decorative figural terminals; coated in bush resin, giving the glossy black finish. All exhibit good signs of use; in excellent condition. Circa early to mid 20th Century. Individually mounted on steel display stands Heights (not including stands): 49 - 61 cm or 19.5 - 24 inches. |
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Maprik Area, East Sepik, Papua New GuineaAn old Abelam ancestor figure. Well carved from hard wood, the figure surmounted by a hornbill peering over his head. Muted natural pigment decoration, with a pierced nose and large exaggerated phallus. Weathered and encrusted patina, with a stable age split on the front side; in excellent condition. Mounted on a steel display stand. Height: 94 cm or 37 inches. |
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Kambaramba Village, East Sepik, Papua New GuineaAn exceptionally fine old Sepik grass country mask. Carved from hard dense wood, with a very expressive face the forehead surmounted by a zoomorphic figure, most likely a clan symbol. Around the rim of the face are traces of resin which held elaborate shell inlay, which is no longer present. Cut out eyes and mouth, while the ears and septum are pierced. The holes around the rim of the mask used to secure it to the dancers costume are all square cut and show signs of extensive use, while faint traces of pigment decoration are visible. The mask appears to be stone carved with some possible re-shaping using metal tooling around the deep set brow, and nose. Collected by Geoff Carey in 1974 in Situ, however dating from a period much earlier than this. A fantastic mask, with a real presence. Circa late 19th to early 20th Century. Mounted on a steel display stand. Height (Not including stand): 65 cm or 25.5 inches. |
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Maprik Area, East Sepik, Papua New GuineaAn old Abelam Hornbill figure. Attached to the front gable of the Haus Tambaran, usually alongside the large carved lintel. Carved from hardwood with an exceptionally fine neck and face. Beautiful muted natural pigment decoration; in fantastic condition. Circa mid 20th Century. Mounted on a steel display stand. Height (not including stand): 67.5 cm or 67.5 inches. |
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Kuminimbis Village, Maprik Area, Papua New GuineaAn Abelam ceramic ceremonial vessel. Used by young men awaiting initiation to eat yam soup from. Highly decorated with incised abstract motif, bearing two ancestor faces, with beautiful muted natural pigment decoration. Weathered and encrusted patina, in excellent condition. Circa mid 20th Century. Dimensions: 22 x 15 cm or 8.5 x 6 inches. |
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Bangus Village, Washkuk Area, East Sepik, Papua New GuineaA Kwoma nose ornament “Taipai”. Used as an adornment to decorate important Yina and Mindja figures at harvest ceremonies. Two upward facing boars tusks fixed within bundles of woven bush string with nassa and cowrie shell attachments. Formerly belonging to Mr Colin Kuyomb who is the cultural leader of Bangus village. A rare example of this style of adornment; in excellent condition. Circa 1960’s. Mounted on a steel display stand. Width: 25 cm or 9.75 inches. |
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Ponde Village, Pangia District, Southern Highlands, Papua New GuineaAn old Southern Highlands bark belt. Worn as an adornment at sing sing ceremonies to hold up the traditional woven string dress. The inner band is a single piece of shaped tree bark with the decorative outer surface having beautiful patterns of woven bark fibre. Constructed entirely from bush materials, and showing signs of extensive use. In excellent condition. Circa early to mid 20th Century. Diameter: 30 cm or 12 inches. |
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Ulupu Village, Maprik Area, Papua New GuineaAn old Abelam yam mask. Carved from hard wood, with an expressive face; and decorated with multilayers of pigments indicating repeated use over time. Attached to yams at harvest ceremonies which are then elaborately decorated with other adornments, giving them an “human” appearance which represent ancestors. Weathered patina in fine condition. Circa early to mid 20th Century. Mounted on a steel display stand. Height (not including stand): 40 cm or 16 inches. |
