Online catalogue for the 55th tribal art auction

21 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") stuck into the material, head band made from the same seeds threaded on cord material, in good condition, sporadically seeds missing; even though the present skull is less elaborate decorated and the lower jaw is missing, it can be classified as an ancestor skull "ndambirkus". If it was a trophee skull there had to be an opening in the side, where the brain was removed for being eaten. The polished, shiny surface of the bone refers to the long usage of the skull.

H: 14,5 cm
H: 5.7 inch

Provenance
Coll. Menikheim, Stuttgart, Germany

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

Sold.

22 Dance mask

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea, Asmat

rattan, plant fibres, sago palm leaves, conical upper part in the shape of a face made of plaited plant fibre, partly open worked, the eyes indicated by oval wood plates with rhomb-shaped pupils, a cymbium shell ("melo amphora") in the nose area, short arms on both sides, the lower part of the mask consisting of long stripes of sago palm leaves, min. dam., slight signs of usage; made for a celebration called "puri" or "puriter pokumbui". Each mask represents a specific ancestor.

H: 157 cm
H: 61.8 inch

Provenance
Coll. Menikheim, Stuttgart, Germany

Literature
The Asmat of New Guinea, The Journal of Michael Clark Rockefeller, New York o.J., p. 322 ff.

Sold.

23 Ancestor figure "kawe"

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea, Asmat

wood, remains of polychrome paint, in form of female figure with elongated limbs and tribe-typical facial features, rising from a figure arranged in the opposite direction, showing a spoon-like trunk without feet, min. dam., fissures, slight signs of abrasion

H: 94,5 cm
H: 37.2 inch

Provenance
Coll. Menikheim, Stuttgart, Germany

Sold.

24 Trophee skull "ndaokus"

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea, Asmat

eye sockets and nasal cavity filled with beeswax and inlaid with the grey seeds of Job's-tears grass ("coix-lacryma-jobi"), the nose plugged with an oval loop that extends way out in front of the skull, rattan string wrapped with plant fibre for support, attached to the upper jaw, opening right hand side, break (cheekbone, right hand side), old traces of head injuries, on metal base; for the Asmat human skulls were part of everyday life. They were worn around the neck. The men used to have the skulls with them all the time, in order to keep in contact with the ancestors. When sleeping, they used them as headrest. There is always a hole in the side of the skull where the brains were taken out to be eaten. There were skulls of treasured ancestors, called "ndambirkus" and skulls of enemies, called "ndaokus". The first one was always kept together with the lower jawbone, which was tightly attached to the skull with a woven rattan band. The skulls were elaborately adorned, with feathers, "bipanes" (nose plugs), abrus beens and grey Jobs seeds. The skulls of enemies were kept as a trophy and as proof of a warrior's prowess. The lower jawbone was given to the women to wear as a necklace - the ultimate insult. In some areas trophy skulls were used for initiation rites. According to an antrophologist, the skull could definitely be dated before the arrival of white people in the area, because of its size. The skull belongs to an adult person, but it is small. First after the arrival of the whites, papuan people changed their eating habits and they became bigger in shape.

H: 14 cm
H: 5.5 inch

Provenance
Hurst Gallery, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA (1988)

Literature
Konrad, Gunter und Ursula, u.a., Asmat, Leben mit den Ahnen, Glashütten 1981, p. 104 f.
Helfrich, Klaus u.a., Asmat, Mythos und Kunst im Leben mit den Ahnen, Museum für Völkerkunde, Berlin 1996, p. 175 f.
Meyer, Anthony J.P., Ozeanische Kunst, Vol. I, Köln 1995, p. 84

Sold.

25 Dish

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Boiken

wood, dark brown patina, of circular and flat form, the underside ornamented in relief, with two small handles, arranged opposite to each other, one of them pierced for support, min. dam., cracks, slight signs of abrasion; food was eaten from coconuts cut in halves or from folded leaves serving as plates. Wooden dishes were used to store food (for example sago flour). Their usage was only allowed to males. The ornamentation on the underside always depicts sea turtles in an absolute abstract form.

D: 39 cm
D: 15.4 inch

Provenance
Ulrich Kortmann, Dortmund, Germany

Sold.

26 Axe blade "je"

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea, Dani

stone, feathers and fibre, greenish slate-like stone, formed like a blade, decorated with strings of plaited bast, with pieces of pelt, feathers and plant fibre affixed to it, min. dam., on metal base; used as bridal currency.

H: 43,5 cm
H: 17.1 inch

Provenance
Koos Knol, The Netherlands
Private Collection, The Netherlands

Literature
Meyer, Anthony J.P., Ozeanische Kunst, Vol. II, Köln 1995, p. 408, ill. 461

Price: 600 - 900 €

27 Ceremonial ornament

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Highlands

big Melomelo-shell, arranged crosswise, with the inside turned to the front, tongue-shaped projection of blackened cord material at the lower rim, decorated with nassa snails, a vertical row of oval cut shell pieces arranged in the middle, set with animal teeth, necklace at the upper rim; central ornament, presumably belonging to the great ceremonial dress of important men.

B: 33 cm; L: 63 cm
B: 13 inch; L: 24.8 inch

Literature
Meyer, Anthony J.P., Ozeanische Kunst, Vol. I, Köln 1995, p. 309

Sold.

28 Bone dagger

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea, Iatmul

cassowary bone, dark brown patina, split and sharpened, decorated with notched ornaments, the swivel head carved in the shape of a hornbill

H: 36,5 cm
H: 14.4 inch

Provenance
Kegel-Konietzko, Hamburg, Germany

Literature
Wardwell, Allen, Island Ancestors, Oceanic Art from the Masco Collection, University of Washington Press 1994, p. 80, ill. 25

Price: 600 - 900 €

29 Big mask

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea, Iatmul

rattan framework, coated with plaited plant fibre, dyed in black, white and brown, of oval elongated form, tube-shaped protruding eyes flanking a long, slightly curved nose with pierced septum, a broad open mouth below, min. dam., slight signs of usage, paint rubbed off

H: 103, 5 cm
H: 103, 2 inch

Provenance
Coll. Menikheim, Stuttgart, Germany

Price: 650 - 1000 €

30 Headcrest "baba"

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Maprik

lygodium wickerwork, dyed with red, white and black pigment, eye zone in form of several open worked rings, flanking a slightly curved forehead-nose-ridge, semicircular lower part in open work design with zigzag ornamentation, min. dam., fissures, paint rubbed off; "baba" masks should depict the so-called "kutagwa" ghost. They were used in ritual dances in the scope of so-called "baga celebrations".

H: 49 cm
H: 19.3 inch

Provenance
Coll. Menikheim, Stuttgart, Germany

Literature
Aumann, Georg, Kunst und Kunsthandwerk aus Neu Guinea, Ausst.kat., Naturwissenschaftliches Museum Coburg 1986, p. 73

Sold.