Manam Island Dance Mask “Watkapura” – tc173

Category: Masks

Manam Island, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

A beautiful Manam Island dance mask. Carved in narrow classic form; the beak like nose joining above the mouth with deeply carved abstract motif projecting to the sides like a classic European moustache. The mouth and eyes, carved through while the ears and nose are pierced for attachments. Applied red and black trade paint, which is common practice in this region since the mid 20th Century. On the side of the mask are four carved holes which would have once housed a bite stick, and a large carved lug on the top of the mask for attachment to the dancers costume, all displaying signs of extensive use. I was lucky enough to document the individual name of this mask at time of collection which is “Watkapura”, this is an ancestral name associated with the clan who sold me it. A fantastic mask with a real presence, in what can only be described as excellent condition. Circa 1920′s; custom mounted

Height: 74 cm or 29 inches.
Price: Australian $5500.00

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Stunning Boiken Turtle Shell Armband – tc163

Category: Adornments

Boiken Area, East Sepik, Papua New Guinea

An ancient coastal Boiken turtle shell armband. This example so old that the carapace resembles petrified wood. The entire outer surface with deeply cut curvilinear motif; while the inside with a solid encrusted patina from generations of use. These are becoming very rare in the field these days, and are only seen during the occaisional sing sing or when presented as a traditional wedding gift. Late 19th Century; in excellent condition.

Diameter 8 cm or 3 inches.
Length: 10 cm or 4 inches
Price: Australian $1200.00

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Ancient Manam “Tate” Step ladder – tc174

Category: Other Objects

Manam Island, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

A Manam Island “Tate” (pronounced tete) step ladder. These were once quite commonly used on Manam, and are unique to this region. Carved from the side of large old ocean going canoes, of which there are none these days, with the Islanders preferring to travel by dinghy. This example is truly ancient and has seen generations of use, as you can tell by the incredibly smooth edges where one would have gripped and the soft rounded surface of the steps. Once a step longer; with the bottom step long gone, the Tate then remained in use until I collected it on a recent field trip. These are incredibly rare these days, with many of the beautiful things on Manam destroyed in a recent volcanic eruption, and the Islanders now living scattered along the mainland coast in squalid “Care centres”. Heavily weathered smooth patina; circa 19th Century, in excellent condition. Custom mounted

Height: 121 cm or 47.5 inches.
Price: Australian $3500.00

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Manam Island Stone Carved Kundu Drum – tc162

Category: Other Objects

Manam Island, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

A fantastic stone and shell carved Manam Island kundu drum. The handle flanked by two individual masked faces, while the motif is deeply carved and bears stylised faces at each of the four ends, and amongst the motif several figures. There are six sections of raised pierced ridges for attachments, while the handle has a wonderful smooth glossy patina from generations of use. Applied red trade pigments, later in its life. Late 19th Century in perfect condition.

Height: 59 cm or 23.25 inches.
Price: Australian $2200.00

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Superb Lower Sepik Dance Mask – tc172

Category: Masks

Lower Sepik River, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

A fine Lower Sepik Dance Mask. Carved from light hard wood in classic form the expressive face surmounted by a carved lizzard descending the forehead; while the ears and nose are pierced for attachments. Layers of vibrant trade and natural pigment decoration from generations of use. On the reverse are two carve holes where a bite stick would have once been. Weathered and encrusted patina, in overall excellent condition. Circa 1940′s; Custom mounted.

Height: 64 cm or 25.25 inches.
Price: Australian $4000.00

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Ancient Manam Island Garamut Figure – tc166

Category: Figures

Manam Island, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

An ancient Manam garamut figure. Stone and shell carved form hard wood, the figure in classic pose with large coffee bean eyes. On the top of the conical head rests a second face and square pierced ears for attachments. Hard to tell if this is the male or female of the pair, due to there being old loss evident on the groin. A fantastic figure with a real presence. Mid 19th Century or earlier. Custom mounted.

Height: 36 cm or 14 inches.
Price: Sold

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Coastal Madang Figural Betel Mortar – tc169

Category: Utilitarian Objects

North Coast, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

An old and well loved betel mortar. Carved form hard wood in large proportions, the bowl and base with incised abstract motif, while four classic masked faces act as pillars. All over smooth encrusted handling patina, while the inside of the bowl is fully betel stained. Circa 1960′s in excellent condition

Height: 18 cm or 7 inches.
Price: $600.00 AUD

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Large Woodlark Island Canoe Prow Ornament – tc164

Category: Other Objects

Woodlark Island, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

An large canoe prow ornament from Woodlark Island. Light wood with lovely openwork carving, with applied natural pigment decoration. Weathered patina from time at sea; in excellent conditon. Circa 1950′s; custom mounted.

Height x Width: 58 x 28 cm or 22.75 x 11 inches.
Price: Sold

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Manam Island Figural Coconut Ladle – tc165

Category: Utilitarian Objects

Manam Island, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

An elegant Manam Island figural coconut spoon. The handle beautifully decorated with five classic masks, all of individual design, the tip terminating in a stylised crocodile head. The coconut spoon is attached using bark fibre binding, and the whole piece exhibits an all over dark smooth patina from extensive use; in perfect condition. Circa 1940′s. Custom mounted.

Length: 48.5 cm or 19 inches.
Price: Australian $900.00

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Fine Kiriwina Lime Gourd with Presentation Basket – tc170

Category: Other Objects

Kiriwina Island, Trobriand Islands, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

A beautiful Kiriwina Lime pot “Yaguma”, complete with its presentation basket “Pepei”. This pot would have once been the possession of a village Big man, the basket and gourd carried by his wife during important events. This example has seen generations of use, the decorative motif on the outside of the gourd worn smooth in many places and the pig tusk stopper boasting a fantastic golden honey patina. The basket is blackened and encrusted. Rare to find the complete set; in fantastic condition. Circa 1930′s.

Gourd Diameter: 18 cm or 7 inches.
Basket Diameter: 26 cm or 10.25 inches
Price: Sold

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