tribal collective » Figures

Old Manam Janus Paddle Figure – tc176

joel — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:16:32 +0000

Manam Island, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

This guy would have once adorned the top of a large ocean going canoe paddle. At the time of collection the paddle was long gone and he had been turned into a personal ancestral figure. Both faces with large beak like nose, and coffee bean eyes, while the conical headdress is decorated with classic linear motif. Weathered and encrusted built up patina in excellent condition. Circa 1930′s. Custom mounted.

Height: 37 cm cm or 14.5 inches.

Price: Australian $500.00

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Ancient Manam Island Garamut Figure – tc166

joel — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:25:54 +0000

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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Small Dance Gope Board Papuan Gulf – tc160

joel — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:53:26 +0000

Mouth of the Purari, Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea

A small Papuan Gulf Gope board. Carved from medium hard wood in classic form; the toothy grinning face with projecting nose at the centre surrounded by incised abstract motif. Decorated with natural pigments and traces of lime infill remain.
Used as a dance ornament during ceremonial sing sings by support dancers. Weathered patina in excellent condition. Mid 20th Century. Custom mounted.

Height: 52 cm or 20.5 inches.

Price: Australian$950.00

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Southern Highlands Timbawarra Figure – tc158

joel — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 07:31:45 +0000

Pangia District, Southern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea

A large beautifully woven and decorated Southern Highlands Timbawarra figure. Constructed from tightly woven bark fibre in human form and decorated on both sides with baked natural ochre pigment decoration. The pigment displays classic highlands motif and is in great condition. Smoky patina, in truly excellent condition. Circa 1960′s; custom mounted.

Height: 110 cm or 43.25 inches.
Price: Sold

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Fantastic Old Abelam Figurative Lintel Fragment – tc105

joel — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 03:05:40 +0000

Maprik Area, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

A striking old Abelam lintel fragment. A singular head from a large lintel that adorns the front of an Abelam spirit house. Carved from heavy wood, in classical form, the face with a cheeky open mouthed grin. Vibrant “trade” paint decoration, a later addition most likely replacing the original ochres. Weathered and encrusted patina; in overall fine condition. Circa 1930′s. Custom mounted. A dynamic piece, and to be honest much easier to display than an entire lintel……….
Collected by Edward Boylan in the early 1970′s

Height x Width: 40 x 37 cm or 15.75 x 14.5 inches

Price: Australian$2000.00

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Ramu Ancestor Figure Misingi Village – tc80

joel — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:49:21 +0000

Misingi Village, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

An old Ramu ancestor figure, most likely originating from Misingi Village. Carved from light hard wood, the main face framed by sharp inwardly pointing projections. Interestingly this example has two other faces adorning the waist, one on the front, the other on the reverse. Muted natural pigment decoration, and some minor loss evident to three of the pointed projections, and old loss to the left leg, which appears to be caused by an over zealous rodent. Weathered and encrusted patina. Mid 20th Century. Custom mounted.

Height: 63.5 cm or 25 inches

Price: Sold

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Arapesh Male Ancestor Figure – tc76

joel — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 04:27:28 +0000

Prince Alexander Mountains, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

A charming Arapesh male ancestor figure. Rising from a circular base, with truncated arms and legs extending from the narrow body. The expressively carved face, with coffee bean eyes above a large flared nose, wearing a cap-like angular coiffure. Carved detail of genitals. Originally collected by Ed Boylan in the 1970′s however having been carved well before this; probably 1940′s. Weathered patina, with several ancient insect holes, minus the insects. In overall wonderful condition. Custom Mounted.
Ex C. Howarth Collection. Melbourne.

Height: 35 cm or 13.75 inches.

Price:$700.00 AUD

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Solomon Islands Female Bust – tc47

joel — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:13:18 +0000

New Georgia or Vella Lavella Islands, Solomon Islands

A beautiful bust of a young girl originating from New Georgia or Vela Lavella Islands. Skilfully carved in fine naturalistic form using blackened hardwood, with pearl shell inlay motif including eyes and ear ornaments with an attached fibre coiffure. The fibre hair is bleached coconut husk. It is believed that these were carved in the late 19th and early 20th Century as early European trade items. This example is in perfect condition. A charming sculpture with a real presence.

Height: 26.5 cm or 10.5 inches

Price: Australian$3500.00

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Kairiru Island Female Figure – bf871

joel — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 07:10:14 +0000

Kairiru Island, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

A Kairiru Island female ancestor figure. Carved from hard wood, with a serious expression on her face, surmounted by a zoomorphic figure perched on her head. On her back shoulders there is a section of raised linear motif. We are not sure if this is a stand alone figure or due to the half animal perhaps taken from a larger carving. Blackened glossy patina, in excellent condition. Mid 20th Century. Custom mounted.

Height: 37 cm or 14.5 inches

Price: $1000.00 AUD

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New Ireland Chalk “Kulap” Funerary Figure – tc65

joel — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:14:45 +0000

New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea

These figures play an important role in the complex funeral ceremonies of the people of this region. Carved to represent the deceased relative, and kept in a sacred house or shrine, they are said to embody the spirit of the deceased. Once the ceremony is completed and the spirit has left the Kulap to join other ancestors, they are taken away; broken and either discarded into the bush or sold. This example has a wonderful carved face, and two sections of loss behind the figure where there would have possibly been other figures. Old surface encrustations, in fine condition. Mounted on a custom made glossy hard wood base. Late 19th to early 20th Century.

Height: 29 cm or 11.5 inches.

Price: Price on Application

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