Bone Hair Pin
Bone Hair Pin
Wosera, Southern Abelam, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea
19th Century
Previous Collection: Marcia and John Friede collection
This example of a cassowary bone ornament would have been worn in the hair, often serving as a fastener behind a wooden headdress to keep it attached to the back of the head. What is important to notice in this ancient and beautiful hair ornament is the elaborate openwork on the top knob, and the skillfully carved clan symbols and designs that cover the hair pins entire surface. Also of note, at the back of the hair pin a stylized face or mask has been carved in relief.
Bone Hair Pin
Wosera, Southern Abelam,
East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea
19th Century
Previous Collection: Marcia and John Friede collection
This example of a cassowary bone ornament would have been worn in the hair, often serving as a fastener behind a wooden headdress to keep it attached to the back of the head. What is important to notice in this ancient and beautiful hair ornament is the elaborate openwork on the top knob, and the skillfully carved clan symbols and designs that cover the hair pins entire surface. Also of note, at the back of the hair pin a stylized face or mask has been carved in relief.
Ancestor Figure
Ancestor Figure
Ramu River, Papua New Guinea, 19th Century
Previous Collection: Collected by Richard Archbold, UK
Authoritative in form; this Ramu river figure has immense torque in the body and is surmounted by a traditionally rendered face with an arrowed shaped pierced nose. The profile is magnificent and exposes the subtle tilt of the figure. Stone carved from hardwood with old red pigments that are still intact. In excellent condition.
Ancestor Figure
Ramu River, Papua New Guinea
19th Century
Previous Collection: Collected by Richard Archbold, UK
Authoritative in form; this Ramu river figure has immense torque in the body and is surmounted by a traditionally rendered face with an arrowed shaped pierced nose. The profile is magnificent and exposes the subtle tilt of the figure. Stone carved from hardwood with old red pigments that are still intact. In excellent condition.
African Ritual Bowl
Ritual Bowl
Igbo, Izzi region, Nigeria
Early 20th c.
Provenance: Old American collection
This distinctive bowl is in the form of an abstracted face. Its eyes take the form of raised oval bands, a raised vertical line indicates a nose and the large opening represents its mouth. On the rim outlining the opening of the mouth there are two incised dots that seem to represent the nose’s nostrils. Traversing the opening of the vessel, in a circular pattern, are raised clay cowry shells, its progression interrupted at the lower end with a human face with arching arms, that is raised from the bowl’s surface. The surface is heavily encrusted with organic matter, suggesting it received many ritual offerings and libations. No definitive research has been done to confirm the exact function of these types of vessels.
Ritual Bowl
Igbo, Izzi region, Nigeria
Early 20th c.
Provenance: Old American collection
This distinctive bowl is in the form of an abstracted face. Its eyes take the form of raised oval bands, a raised vertical line indicates a nose and the large opening represents its mouth. On the rim outlining the opening of the mouth there are two incised dots that seem to represent the nose’s nostrils. Traversing the opening of the vessel, in a circular pattern, are raised clay cowry shells, its progression interrupted at the lower end with a human face with arching arms, that is raised from the bowl’s surface. The surface is heavily encrusted with organic matter, suggesting it received many ritual offerings and libations. No definitive research has been done to confirm the exact function of these types of vessels.
Equestrian Brass Amulet
Brass Amulet
Kotoko, Chad
19th century or earlier
Provenance: Old European collection
Cast in the classic form of an equestrian figure, this small pendant showcases how diminutive objects can be just as detailed if not more so than larger objects. The features are extremely worn from generations of handling; while the integrity of the casting is still totally intact. The details of the figure and horse and its riding gear are both visible but delicately rounded from everyday use and wear.
Brass Amulet
Kotoko, Chad
19th century or earlier
Provenance: Old European collection
Cast in the classic form of an equestrian figure, this small pendant showcases how diminutive objects can be just as detailed if not more so than larger objects. The features are extremely worn from generations of handling; while the integrity of the casting is still totally intact. The details of the figure and horse and its riding gear are both visible but delicately rounded from everyday use and wear.
Indonesian Bali Dance Mask
Dance Mask
Bali, Indonesia
Early 20th c
Provenance: Old Canadian collection
Historically Temple festivals commemorating the date of the temple’s foundation and other celebratory festivals have occurred at regular intervals at the thousands of temples on the island of Bali; and many of these include or are accompanied by masked performances. Masks with deformities usually represent comic characters. This mask represents a character with a cleft lip, a deformity that is not rare to encounter amongst the Balinese. The original attached eyebrows, moustache and beard are made from goatskin. The patina on the back of the mask indicates it was worn repeatedly.
Dance Mask
Bali, Indonesia
Early 20th c
Provenance: Old Canadian collection
Historically Temple festivals commemorating the date of the temple’s foundation and other celebratory festivals have occurred at regular intervals at the thousands of temples on the island of Bali; and many of these include or are accompanied by masked performances. Masks with deformities usually represent comic characters. This mask represents a character with a cleft lip, a deformity that is not rare to encounter amongst the Balinese. The original attached eyebrows, moustache and beard are made from goatskin. The patina on the back of the mask indicates it was worn repeatedly.
Pagar Power Figure
Pagar Power Figure
Batak tribe Sumatra, Indonesia, 19th c
Provenance: Old European collection
Shamans or datus used these objects to control the spirit world and keep evil spirits away from the village. The wooden cavity on the figure’s chest, just above its thumbs, contains pukpuk, which is a mixture of organic substances that activates the figure’s magical qualities. The figure is carved in an elongated stylized fashion; and when viewed from profile the subtle curves of the sculpture are revealed. This example is also quite large and impressive, with strong and oversized hands and ears. The patina is dark and deep, attesting to its great age and repeated ritual use. The wood used is heavy and dense. Overall, it’s in very good condition, the splits seen in the wood are old and stabilized.
Pagar Power Figure
Batak tribe Sumatra, Indonesia
19th c
Provenance: Old European collection
Shamans or datus used these objects to control the spirit world and keep evil spirits away from the village. The wooden cavity on the figure’s chest, just above its thumbs, contains pukpuk, which is a mixture of organic substances that activates the figure’s magical qualities. The figure is carved in an elongated stylized fashion; and when viewed from profile the subtle curves of the sculpture are revealed. This example is also quite large and impressive, with strong and oversized hands and ears. The patina is dark and deep, attesting to its great age and repeated ritual use. The wood used is heavy and dense. Overall, it’s in very good condition, the splits seen in the wood are old and stabilized.
Protective Figure Bateba
Protective Figure, Bateba
Lobi; Burkina Faso
Early 20th c
Provenance: Newark Museum of Art, NJ. Accession number: X8529
Unique among the Lobi is the fact that all male tribal members carve. This is not the case in most sub-Saharan African countries; it is either special members in a community of ultimate talent or known ateliers who do the carving for ritual specialists… The Lobi produce a vast array of sculpture each unique in style; sometimes creating extremely powerful carvings. This example is strongly cubistic with a wonderful face; pleasing to the eye from every angle; which is rare in African art. There is good tension in the legs and arms of the figure giving it a sense of motion. The wood is hard and encrusted from numerous libations throughout the years. There is a small old loss to one foot; but in otherwise excellent condition.
Protective Figure, Bateba
Lobi; Burkina Faso
Early 20th c
Provenance: Newark Museum of Art, NJ. Accession number: X8529
Unique among the Lobi is the fact that all male tribal members carve. This is not the case in most sub-Saharan African countries; it is either special members in a community of ultimate talent or known ateliers who do the carving for ritual specialists… The Lobi produce a vast array of sculpture each unique in style; sometimes creating extremely powerful carvings. This example is strongly cubistic with a wonderful face; pleasing to the eye from every angle; which is rare in African art. There is good tension in the legs and arms of the figure giving it a sense of motion. The wood is hard and encrusted from numerous libations throughout the years. There is a small old loss to one foot; but in otherwise excellent condition.
Drinking Cup
Drinking Cup
Abelam, Screw Mountains, Papua New Guinea
20th c
Provenance: Old American collection
This drinking cup is made from a coconut shell and was most likely used by an important man within Abelam society. The cup is beautifully carved in complex raised relief motifs. A stylized human head is carved as the handle for this cup. Along the center ridge traversing the entire surface of the shell there are three additional carved abstracted faces. The surface is well worn and its aged patina has developed from extensive use and handling. Old drinking cups from Papua New Guinea are extremely rare.
Drinking Cup
Abelam, Screw Mountains, Papua New Guinea
Early 20th c
Provenance: Old American collection
This drinking cup is made from a coconut shell and was most likely used by an important man within Abelam society. The cup is beautifully carved in complex raised relief motifs. A stylized human head is carved as the handle for this cup. Along the center ridge traversing the entire surface of the shell there are three additional carved abstracted faces. The surface is well worn and its aged patina has developed from extensive use and handling. Old drinking cups from Papua New Guinea are extremely rare.
Cooking Pot
Cooking Pot
Boiken, Papua New Guinea
Early 20th c
Provenance: John and Marcia Friede, Rye, NY.
Pottery traditions proliferate in the northern mountainous regions of Papua New Guinea. This cooking pot, from the Boiken, is a fantastic example. The globular pot exhibits an indented neck and flared lip, a common characteristic of Boiken cooking and storage pots. The pot is not decorated except for a single human face, most likely representing an ancestral spirit. The face is striking; just the eyes, nose, mouth, and a raised line is carved to delineate the face from the body of the pot. Vessels are made using the coil technique and are then shaped by chip-carving when the surface is not quite dry. This leaves the bowls beautifully texturized, visible on this particular example. The pot is very old, a rare find.
A similar example is published: Patricia May and Margaret Tuckson. 1982. “Traditional Pottery of Papua New Guinea”. p. 257, f. 9.84.
Cooking Pot
Boiken, Papua New Guinea
Early 20th c
Provenance: John and Marcia Friede, Rye, NY.
Pottery traditions proliferate in the northern mountainous regions of Papua New Guinea. This cooking pot, from the Boiken, is a fantastic example. The globular pot exhibits an indented neck and flared lip, a common characteristic of Boiken cooking and storage pots. The pot is not decorated except for a single human face, most likely representing an ancestral spirit. The face is striking; just the eyes, nose, mouth, and a raised line is carved to delineate the face from the body of the pot. Vessels are made using the coil technique and are then shaped by chip-carving when the surface is not quite dry. This leaves the bowls beautifully texturized, visible on this particular example. The pot is very old, a rare find.
A similar example is published: Patricia May and Margaret Tuckson. 1982. “Traditional Pottery of Papua New Guinea”. p. 257, f. 9.84.