Online catalogue for the 52nd tribal art auction

11 Canoe prow

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Massim

wood, middle brown patina, narrow projection, crowned by a disc-shaped flattened superstructure, partly in openwork design, elaborate decorated with incised curvilinear ornaments, slightly dam., on metal base; the Massim are noted artists. Their designs are often based on stylized bird heads, which are carved in an interlocking manner to form a type of "Greek" scrolling.

H: 22,5 cm; L: 49 cm
H: 8.9 inch; L: 19.3 inch

Provenance
Jean Louis Roiseux, Montreuil-sous-Bois, France, collected in situ 1963

Literature
Meyer, Anthony J.P., Ozeanische Kunst, Vol. I, Köln 1995, p. 143, ill. 135

Price: 1550 - 2300 €

12 Staff

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Massim

wood, blackened, circular in cross section, decorated with incised curvilinear ornaments, crowned by a flat superstructure in openwork design, showing two stylized anthropomorphic figures, arranged back to back, completed by a head crest, slightly dam., cracks (on top)

H: 1 m
H: 1 m

Provenance
Private Collection, France

Price: 700 - 1000 €

13 Mask

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Middle Sepik, Angoram

wood, black and white paint, of elongated, slightly hollowed lancet-shaped form, a protruding forehead with a deepened pierced eye zone below, a bow-shaped nose nearly reaching down to the chin, chin plug, slightly dam., cracks, minor missing parts, abrasion, on metal base

H: 47 cm
H: 18.5 inch

Sold.

14 Zoomorphic mask "malagan"

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Bismarck Archipelago - New Ireland

wood, painted with black, red and white pigment, narrow elongated head with a trunk-like snout, the forehead area arranged ornamental, flanked by tapering horns which are arising from a cross bar at the snout, the eyes inset with Turbo petholatus shell, small traces of old insect caused damage on one side, a third horn, originally situated on the forehead now missing, on metal base; presumably used at "malagan" rites. The "malagan" is a system of mortuary rites which serve to free the soul from the body of the deceased so that it may go to its final resting-place. Advantage is also taken of the advent of a "malagan" cycle to initiate the young men-to-be into adulthood. The vast expense involved in the staging of a "malagan" ceremony - which requires the commissioning of numerous works of art, the provision of food and lodgings for visitors, etc. - helps stimulate the economy by injecting large quantities of shell money into the system.

H: 52 cm
H: 20.5 inch

Provenance
Private Collection, France

Literature
Helfrich, Klaus, Malanggan 1, Bildwerke von Neuirland, Museum für Völkerkunde Berlin 1973, ill. 107 ff.
Meyer, Anthony J.P., Ozeanische Kunst, Vol. II, Köln 1995, p. 345 ff.

Price: 7800 - 12000 €

15 Mask "lewa"

This object is not available any more.

Schouten Islands

wood, painted in black, white and red, of oval hollowed form, lancet-shaped narrow slit eyes flanking a bulky nose with pierced septum and inserted ornament, tube-like arranged palm leaves framing the face, wooden stick on the rear for carrying the mask with the mouth, slightly dam., representing a mythical spirit called "tangbwal". These spirits were called forth to regulate the food supply in preparation for ceremonial feasts. For about three months masked dancers would appear in the village. They would issue and enforce a ban on the collecting of coconuts so that a sufficient quantity would be available for the forthcoming event. When enough coconuts had ripened, the "tangbwal" left the village on a mythical vessel.

H: 40 cm
H: 15.7 inch

Provenance
Wim Baumann, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Félix Pelt, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Literature
Meyer, Anthony J.P., Ozeanische Kunst, Vol. I, Köln 1995, p. 184, ill. 187

Price: 6500 - 9800 €

16 Small mask

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Sepik

wood, residues of black and white paint, strongly darkened, slightly vaulted, lancet shaped, plug-like projections on top and at the bottom, slanting brow zone with a deepened facial plane underneath, small circular eyes with raised rim flanking a short nose, completed by a "smiling" mouth below, slightly dam., cracks, abrasion, traces of old age

H: 33,5 cm
H: 13.2 inch

Provenance
French Collection

Price: 1200 - 1800 €

17 Sculpture of a crocodile

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Sepik

wood, blackish brown patina, encrusted in some areas, stylized form, an elongated trunk, flattened on the underside, rising up to the spine, the eyes and snout indicated by incised lines, painted with dots, slightly dam., cracks, paint rubbed off, on metal base

L: 1 m
L: 1 m

Provenance
Félix Pelt, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Price: 1000 - 1500 €

18 Figure with superstructure

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Sepik

wood, blackish brown patina, a human figure in ducked posture with both hands resting on the knees, the oval facial plane dominated by a big nose with pierced septum, a voluminous superstructure projecting from the back of the head, presumably depicting a stylized crocodile, showing a cylindrical body with curved legs, the tail overlapping the figures forehead, slightly dam., missing parts, cracks, abrasion, on base; presumably from a canoe prow.

H: 65 cm
H: 25.6 inch

Provenance
Ludwig Bretschneider, Munich, Germany
Coll. John J. Klejman, New York, USA

Sold.

19 Pestle

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Sepik

wood, shining blackish brown patina, conical shaped tamper, a disc-shaped base crowned by a standing male figure with free carved arms, showing a wide face with a heart-shaped eye zone and handle shaped ears, crowned by a bulbous, pierced head crest, on base

H: 44 cm
H: 17.3 inch

Price: 4550 - 6800 €

20 Maske

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Sepik

wood, encrusted reddish brown patina, of oval form, a high forehead with horizontal bandeau of small shells, the eyes inset with cowrie snails, flanking a beak-like bent nose, a small oval mouth underneath, old collection number on the rear "72.6.5", dam., signs of abrasion, cracks, insect caused damage, on base

H: 39 cm, 19. Jh.
H: 15.4 inch, 19. Jh.

Provenance
Missionsmuseum St. Augustin, Bonn, Germany

Published in
Hoffmann, Ulrich, Faszination Alt-Amerika, Stuttgart 2002, p. 155

Price: 1800 - 2700 €