Online catalogue for the 54th tribal art auction

11 Three collars

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea

of various sizes, ring shaped rattan plait, the rims set with nassa snails

H: 25, 27 and 29 cm
H: 25, 27 and 11.4 inch

Sold.

12 Seated figure

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea

wood, middle brown patina, residues of black paint, rising from an irregular formed base, arms and legs stretched aside, with the elbows and knees connected by vertical struts, comb-like arranged hands, crowned by an elongated head with protruding, clumsy facial features, coiffure of grass fibres, slightly dam., missing parts (fingers of the left hand); presumably originating from a ceremonial hook.

H: 100 cm
H: 39.4 inch

Literature
Kaeppler, Adrienne, Christian Kaufmann und Douglas Newton, Ozeanien, Kunst und Kultur, Herder Verlag Freiburg, Basel, Wien 1994, ill. 594

Price: 800 - 1200 €

13 Big ornament and currency ring "yua"

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea, Abelam

cut from tridacna shell, slightly vaulted on the outside, eight notches at the rim, natural veined, place of repair, on base; such rings were used as primitive money but men used to wear them during ritual dances as well. Sometimes they were even given to young girls who were about to marry. They fixed the rings to special bags used to be worn with a headband, and thus made them an important part of their festive costume. They were used for decoration of the big yam root as well.

D: 15 cm (inside), 28 cm
D: 5.9 inch (inside), 11 inch

Provenance
umgeschrieben auf 4666/ 66, Eigentum Kunsthandel

Literature
Aumann, Georg, Kunst und Kunsthandwerk aus Neu Guinea, Ausst.kat. Natur-Museum Coburg 1986, p. 147

Sold.

14 Ritual carving

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea, Abelam

wood, post-shaped sculpture, a plug-shaped base, carved with a stylized human face with tubular protruding eyes and a pierced, bow-shaped nose, crowned by a massive birds sculpture, presumably depicting a cockatoo, painted with black and white pigment, red and yellow ochre, the contours accentuated by a dotted pattern, flattened on the back, slightly dam., cracks, on base; architectural ornament, presumably once attached to a ritual house.

H: 1,33 m
H: 1,33 m

Literature
Aumann, Georg, Kunst und Kunsthandwerk aus Neu Guinea, Ausst.kat. Natur-Museum Coburg 1986, p. 36 f.

Price: 800 - 1200 €

15 Mask costume "jiwawoka"

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea, Asmat

rattan, sago leaves, conical-shaped, consisting of ring-shaped rattan splices, enlaced by plant fibre strings, painted with vertical black stripes, the planes inbetween dyed with red ochre and kaolin, circular pierced eyes, an oval mouth opening, the nose indicated by a loop with inserted wooden plug, stump arms, exuberant grass fibre bundles attached to the lower rim; when appearing the "jiwawoka" is wearing a stick, in order to check the fairground, a bag for food and a ceremonial net as a hint for the "jiwawoka" myth.

H: 75 cm, around 1960
H: 29.5 inch, around 1960

Provenance
Private Collection, Germany

Preis von Euro 400 für Einlieferer akzeptabel

Literature
Helfrich, Klaus u.a., Asmat, Mythos und Kunst im Leben mit den Ahnen, Musuem für Völkerkunde, Berlin 1996, p. 102, 6.1
Konrad, Gunter und Ursula, Mattihas Schneebaum, Asmat, Leben mit den Ahnen, Glashütten 1981, p. 166 f.

Price: 500 - 800 €

16 Ancestor skull "ndambirkus"

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea, Asmat

bone, polished, the lower jawbone tightly attached to the skull with a woven rattan band, the eye-sockets filled with beeswax and inlaid with the grey seeds of Job's-tear grass ("Coix lacryma-jobi"), red seeds of the crab's eye vine ("Abrus precatorius") marking pupils and nose, a pierced hollow bone as nose plug, head band of cord material with tassels of feathers (cassowary) attached; the skull of a treasured ancestor was treated with outmost respect, it was dressed in a ceremonial manner and kept in a secure place. Skulls of enemies however were really treated badly. The brains were taken out to be eaten. The lower jawbone was given to the women to wear as a necklace - the ultimate insult. Even those skulls, called "ndaokus" were kept as a trophy and as proof of a warrior's prowess.

H: 20 cm
H: 7.9 inch

Provenance
Gallery Oliver Bittel, Munich, Germany

Literature
Meyer, Anthony J.P., Ozeanische Kunst, Vol. I, Köln 1995, p.84, ill. 64
Helfrich, Klaus u.a., Asmat, Mythos und Kunst im Leben mit den Ahnen, Musuem für Völkerkunde, Berlin 1996, p. 175

Sold.

17 Ancestor skull "ndambirkus"

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea, Asmat

bone, polished, the eye-sockets were filled with a blackish mass which was also used to remodel the nose, grey seeds of Job's-tear grass ("Coix lacryma-jobi") in dense rows stuck into the material, the lower jaw backside decorated with a string of threaded Job's tears and feathers, additonal: necklace of cord material with vertebra bone attached; the men always used to carry the skulls with them, in order to keep in touch with the ancestors. When sleeping they were used as headrests. The polished, shining surface of the bone refers to the long usage of the skull.

H: ca. 20 cm
H: ca. 7.9 inch

Literature
Konrad, Gunter und Ursula, Mattihas Schneebaum, Asmat, Leben mit den Ahnen, Glashütten 1981, p. 104 f.

Sold.

18 Ancestor figure "kawe"

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea, Asmat

wood, middle brown patina, a fragile body, dissolved in stylized forms, consisting of tube-like limbs arranged bifurcate, with knobs forming the knees and feet, a reflection of the body added to the front, duplicating the body to a certain extent, a narrow anthropomorphic head with accentuated brows and a protruding broad mouth, the ears arranged vice versa, bifurcate base with tapering plugs, dam., cracks (right side of the head), place of repair (both upper arms), on base; in the Asmats creation myth the big hero "fumeripit" carved a number of human figures. When beating his drum they came alive, forming the first clans. The rigid motionlessness of the "kawe" figures should remind of the initial inanimateness of the first human beings. The deceased is depicted in the shape of a "praying mantis". This so-called "wenet" motif, is used for decorating drums, fighting shields, paddles and bowls throughout the whole Asmat region. It can be looked upon as the symbol for head hunting par excellence, because the female of that kind of insects bites off the males head after copulation took place.

H: 128 cm, coll. in situ between 1958-61
H: 50.4 inch, coll. in situ between 1958-61

Provenance
Coll. Dr. van Amelsvoort, The Netherlands

Literature
Helfrich, Klaus u.a., Asmat, Mythos und Kunst im Leben mit den Ahnen, Musuem für Völkerkunde, Berlin 1996, p. 179 f.; p. 183, ill. 12.12

Price: 3000 - 4500 €

19 Big mask "garra"

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Hunstein Mountains, Bahinemo

wood, shield-shaped with separated rim, a big stylized face in the centre, showing a hollowed facial plane, painted with zigzag and rhomb pattern in black and white on a middle brown back, conical eyes, hook-shaped projections on top and at the base, in place of the nose arranged in pairs, dam., missing parts because of old insect caused damage, abrasion, on metal base; "garra" masks represent bush spirits and older men. The hooks are seen as stylized hornbill beaks projecting above and below the human face. The hornbill is associated with old men, since they are the only ones allowed to eat its flesh. "Garra" are carried in the hands of male dancers during initiation ceremonies.The rest of the time they were hung from the rafters in the Men's House. All the "garra", or sacred items, of the Bahinemo are believed to have been originally created by Wimogu and Igoshua, a mythical couple who are said to still live on a small island at the mouth of the April River. There are two main types of "garra", masks such as this one, and the so-called hooked "garra".

H: 112 cm
H: 44.1 inch

Literature
Meyer, Anthony J.P., Ozeanische Kunst, Vol. I, Köln 1995, p. 266, ill. 293

Price: 800 - 1200 €

20 Overmodeled ancestor skull

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea, Iatmul

human skull, overmodeled with sago-palm pith, which was even used to form brows, nose, mouth and ears, decorated with nassa snails and conus shell disc, strings of human hair attached in one row, the eyes inset with shell discs, the entire facial plane dyed with white pigment, finally painted with symmetrical arranged, curvilinear ornaments in red paint, slightly dam., cracks (sago-palm pith); overmodeled skulls play a fundamental role in preserving the memory of a clan's origins. The skulls of a clan's founding ancestors are often kept and displayed, as are those of family ancestors. The proof of a warrior's prowess lies in the number of overmodeled enemy skulls he owns.

L: 24 cm
L: 9.4 inch

Provenance
Private Collection, Münster, Germany

Literature
Meyer, Anthony J.P., Ozeanische Kunst, Vol. I, Köln 1995, p. 221

Sold.