Online catalogue for the 54th tribal art auction

21 Big helmet mask "baba"

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Maprik

rattan base with a wickerwork coating, spreaded with a thick layer of clay, the face framed by a plaited rim, a raised forehead ridge merging into a long, trunk-like nose, a flap-like protruding lower jaw, strengthened by a thin wooden plate, pierced slanting eyes, bundles of cassowary feathers at the rim, slightly dam., mass missing in some areas; masks of that kind depict the "spirit of kutagwa" (a strong female spirit of the forest). Masquerades are performed during the so-called "baga celebrations".

H: 51 cm
H: 20.1 inch

Literature
Aumann, Georg, Kunst und Kunsthandwerk aus Neu Guinea, Ausst.kat. Natur-Museum Coburg 1986, p. 73/74

Sold.

22 Mask

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Sepik

wood, blackened, of oval hollowed form, raised vertical forehead ridge, merging into a sharp edged nose with bowed bridge and pierced septum, flanked by narrow slit eyes with raised rim, small handle-shaped projections on the forehead (ears?), slightly disarranged features (mouth), six drilled holes at the rim, missing parts (forehead, chin right hand side), traces of old insect caused damage and weathering (backside), old collection label backside "...K 288"

H: 28 cm
H: 11 inch

Price: 800 - 1200 €

23 Mask of a spiritual being

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Sepik

wood, reddish brown patina, traces of camwood powder and black paint, of narrow, elongated form, a vaulted forehead separated from the dominating eye zone by a half-circular deepened line, the eyes consisting of small holes with a drop shaped framing with concentric grooves, a beak-like tapering nose with raised middle ridge and pierced septum below, a small semi-circular mouth at the tip of the chin, pierced in the chin area, slightly dam., cracks, minor missing parts at the back of the rim; in the Lower Sepik Area, it is generally accepted that long pointed noses represent spiritual beings while short naturalistic ones portray true ancestors.This mask could represent a mythical spirit called "tangbwal". These spirits were called forth to regulate the food supply in preparation for ceremonial feasts.

H: 61 cm
H: 24 inch

Provenance
Private Collection, France

Literature
Meyer, Anthony J.P., Ozeanische Kunst, Vol. I, Köln 1995, p. 182

Price: 12000 - 18000 €

24 Suspension hook

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Sepik

heavy wood, reddish brown patina, camwood powder, sickle-shaped flattened base forming a hook on either side, carved with a third hook in the middle, crowned by a big human face with stylized facial features, the body showing the shape of two birds heads in profile, handle backside, slightly dam., crack (head), abrasion, place of repair (hook-shaped ending right hand side), traces of old insect caused damage backside

H: 75 cm
H: 29.5 inch

Provenance
Coll. Rudolf Indlekofer, Basel, Switzerland

Sold.

25 Standing male ancestor figure

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Sepik

wood, reddish and blackish brown patina, dominated by a broad shoulder/breast area with strong, free carved arms and a big head with an oval flattened facial plane, showing T-shaped brows and narrow standing eyes, flanking an arrow-shaped nose and giving the figure a somehow "ferocious" expression, the face painted with curvilinear ornaments, scale-like ornaments in relief on the upper part of the body, slightly dam., minor missing parts, abrasion, on base

H: 53,5 cm
H: 21.1 inch

Provenance
Coll. Rudolf Indlekofer, Basel, Switzerland

Sold.

26 Shield-shaped board

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Sepik

wood, black and red pigment, kaolin, of narrow, rectangular form, with raised middle ridge, carved in flat relief, showing three stylized faces, arranged on top of each other, the one in the middle with plug-like projecting nose, grass fibre tassels aside, dam., cracks left hand side, paint rubbed off; probably coming from the interior of the Men's House. The three faces representing ancstral spirits or clan fathers.

H: 1,80 m
H: 1,80 m

Provenance
Coll. Jacques R. van Overstraeten, Brussels, Belgium

Literature
Meyer, Anthony J.P., Ozeanische Kunst, Vol. I, Köln 1995, p. 194, ill. 201

Price: 600 - 900 €

27 Male ancestor figure "kandingbong"

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Sepik

wood, brown patina, white pigment remains, rising from slightly bent bulky legs, supporting a slender trunk which is flanked by free carved arms, both hands resting aside the upper legs, an oval head with stylized facial features and a nose with pierced septum, crowned by a high tapering headgear, fissures, slight signs of abrasion, missing parts (feet), on wooden base

H: 68,5 cm
H: 27 inch

Provenance
James Davidson Collection, Melbourne, Australia
Anthony JP Meyer, Paris, France

Published in
Gallery Anthony JP Meyer, Catalogue No 9, 1991, No 12

Literature
Kelm, Heinz, Kunst vom Sepik, Band III, Berlin 1968, ill. 8

Price: 4000 - 6000 €

28 Suspension hook

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Sepik

wood, residues of blackish brown patina, sickle-shaped hook, carved with a stylized, narrow mask face with horns, an elongated beak forming the hooks shaft, dam., cracks, missing parts (in the area of the horns), traces of old insect caused damage backside

H: 66 cm
H: 26 inch

Price: 850 - 1500 €

29 Male ancestor figure "kandingbong"

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Sepik

wood, encrusted patina, simple forms, free carved arms and legs, straightened feet, dominated by a big, oval head with protruding forehead ridge, a broad nose with bow-shaped prolongation, slightly dam., missing parts; figures with a long beak-like nose are characteristic for the Lower Sepik area, pointing to the close connection between man and bird.

H: 37,5 cm
H: 14.8 inch

Sold.

30 Spear tip

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Lower Sepik

wood, dark brown patina, encrusted in some areas, carved with overlapping barbs, the shaft decorated with a flat mask face, showing the typical nose with pierced septum, wooden plug for insertion into the spear, slightly dam., minor missing part backside

L: 55 cm
L: 21.7 inch

Provenance
Coll. A. Eckert, Munich, Germany

Sold.