A Pair of Fine Massim Lime Spatula - tc24

Category: Utilitarian Objects, latest pieces

Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

A wonderful pair of old Massim lime spatula. Both are carved from beautiful dark ebony wood. The figural example is in a classical pose, with elbows resting on knees and is highly decorated in abstract motif. While the other is a “clapper style, with two faces on the handle and a great sound when knocked against the hand. The figural spatula is late 19th Century while the clapper dates from the early 20th, both are in excellent condition. Mounted on a custom stands.

Heights: 32 & 32 cm or 12.5 & 12.5 inches.

Price: Price on Application

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Elegant Massim Sago Stirer Dobu Island - tc33

Category: Utilitarian Objects, latest pieces

Dobu Island, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

An old Massim food stirrer, collected on Dobu Island. Splendid, elegant form; the handle decorated in incised abstract motif, and pierced for Pandanus leaf attachments. There is also a small section of raised motif above the spoon section. Deep glossy patina from extensive handling over time, the stirrer still nicely encrusted with sago deposits. 19th century, custom mounted.

Height: 115 cm or 45.2 inches.

Price: Sold

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Kairiru Island Betel Mortar - tc6

Category: Utilitarian Objects, latest pieces

Kairiru Island, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

A charming Kairiru betel mortar. Carved from light hard wood, in shallow elongated form, with two of what we were informed are flying fox heads at each end. The outer surface of the bowl decorated with abstract motif, the inside nicely betel stained. Glossy handling patina, in excellent condition. Mid 20th Century

Length: 15 cm or 6 inches.

Price: Price on Application

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Ancient Massim Whale Bone Spatula - bf870

Category: Utilitarian Objects

D’Entrecasteaux Islands, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

A fine and ancient Massim whale bone spatula. Elegant form, a row of pierced holes running along the upper rim for attaching bagi shell currency. Encrusted honey golden patina from extensive handling and use over time, the tip nicely betel stained. Circa 19th Century. Mounted on a custom steel display stand.

Height: 25.5 cm or 10 inches.

Price: Price on Application

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Sepik Food Hook Ex Hallinan - bf842

Category: Utilitarian Objects

East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

An old Sepik suspension hook. A great example, most likely representing an important ancestor figure. Wonderful natural pigment decoration on the face, which has large protruding eyes with shell attachments. Weathered patina with old insect holes. Plenty of wear on the hook where bilums would have been hung, as well on the square cut hold on the top of the head used to attach the hook. Mounted on a custom steel stand.

Ex P. Hallinan Collection (H291)

Height: 53 cm or 21 inches.

Price: Price on Application

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Markham Valley Figural Coconut Spoon - bf882

Category: Utilitarian Objects

Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea

A wonderful Markham coconut spoon. Carved with a human face on the terminal, with large pierced ears. The back top section with incised curvilinear motif. We chose to have the coconut mounted upright giving the spoon the appearance of a little old man. Glossy patina from handling; in excellent condition.

Dimensions: 10.5 cm or 4.2 inches.

Price: Price on Application

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Massim Lime Pot - bf851

Category: Utilitarian Objects

Louisiade Archipelago, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

An old Massim decorated lime pot. A large spherical hollowed out gourd complete with its woven bark fibre and pig tusk stopper. Pearl and bagi shell attachments with some small green plastic discs as a substitute for bagi discs. This is a great example and the weave on the stopper is extremely fine and incorporates a rim of bagi attachments around the base of the pigs tusk. The inside still bears some remnant lime. Overall this pieces is in fantastic condition and comes with with a perspex mount. Early 20th Century.

Dimensions: 26 x 18 cm or 10.2 x 7 inches.

Price: Price on Application

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Massim Ebony Sago Stirrer - bf838

Category: Utilitarian Objects

Louisade Archipelago, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

An elegant Massim sago stirrer. Carved from ebony wood, with the entire stem and terminal decorated with carved motif. Rounded softened edges from handling with a dark glossy patina, in excellent condition. Circa late 19th to early 20th Century. Mounted on a custom steel display stand.

Height: 63 cm or 24.75 inches.

Price: Price on Application

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Abelam Carved Coconut Cup - bf 876

Category: Utilitarian Objects

Maprik area, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

An old and beautiful Abelam coconut cup. Used during ceremonies to drink Yam soup. Highly carved on the outer surface in classic abstract motif with a styalised spirit figure in the centre wearing a ceremonial headdress. Fantastic glossy patina from extensive handling; in fine condition. Mounted on a custom steel display stand.

Dimensions: 10.5 x 12 cm or 4.2 x 4.75 inches.

Price: Price on Application

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Abelam Figural Coconut Sago Spoon - bf 874

Category: Utilitarian Objects

Maprik Area, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea.

A figural Abelam Coconut spoon. Used to eat sago; which to be honest is quite horrible, but the Abelam people seem to enjoy it. The terminal decorated with a classic Abelam face while the underside bears incised abstract motif; with traces of applied natural pigment. Smooth patina from use; in excellent condition. Circa Early 20th Century. Mounted on a custom steel display stand.

Dimensions: 11 x 7.5 cm or 4.25 x 3 inches.

Price: Price on Application

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