Online catalogue for the 60th tribal art auction

11 Ancestor skull "ndambirkus"

This object is not available any more.

Asmat, Area of Ocenep, Papua-Neuguinea

bone, polished, broad bone structure, the lower jaw and the modelled nose missing, as well as the decoration of the eye-sockets with bees wax and seeds, plant fibre headband with coix-seeds and red abrus-seeds, tufts of cassowary feathers and seashells attached, signs of age and usage on the underside, presumably from using the skull as "pillow"

M: 19 x 15 x 40 cm, 1st third of the 20th century (5102/002)
M: 19 x 15 x 15.7 inch, 1st third of the 20th century (5102/002)

Provenance
Private Collection, Belgium

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. 176 f.
Konrad, Gunter und Ursula, u.a., Asmat, Leben mit den Ahnen, Glashütten 1981, p. 104 f.

Price: 2300 - 4500 €

12 Ancestor skull "ndambirkus"

This object is not available any more.

Asmat, Papua-Neuguinea

bone, brown patina, the lower jawbone tightly attached to the skull with cord material, the eye-sockets filled with beeswax, with grey seeds of Job's-tear grass ("Coix lacryma-jobi") and red seeds of the crab's eye vine ("Abrus precatorius") impressed, the nose modelled with a blackish resin-like mass, boar tusks as nose ornament attached, head band of cord and coix seeds, with tassels of feathers from the white cockatoo attached, good condition, complete dentition, minor damage on top of the head, on base; just like normal household articles in Asmat culture human skulls were part of everyday life. The skull of a treasured ancestor was treated with outmost respect, it was dressed in a ceremonial manner and kept in a secure place. Sometimes it was attached to cord and worn around the neck. The men used to carry the skulls around with them in order to keep in contact with the ancestors. When sleeping they used the ancestor skulls as head rest. The skulls of enemies, called "ndaokus" were kept in the mens house. They always show a hole in the side of the skull where the brains were taken out to be eaten. The lower jawbone was always separated from the skull and given to the women to wear as a necklace, which was regarded as the ultimate insult.

H: 20 cm, (5101/001)
H: 7.9 inch

Provenance
Private Collection, South 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. 176 f.
Konrad, Gunter und Ursula, u.a., Asmat, Leben mit den Ahnen, Glashütten 1981, p. 104 f.

Sold for: 7500 €

13 Axe handle

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Asmat, Papua-Neuguinea

wood, shiny reddish brown patina, a human head with tribe-typical facial features at the bottom, the upper part drop-shaped, originally inset with a stone blade, decorated with stylized leaves, collection number "64:5", min. dam., slight signs of abrasion

L: 78 cm, (4843/018)
L: 30.7 inch

Provenance
Private Collection, Italy

Literature
Helfrich, Klaus u.a., Asmat, Mythos und Kunst im Leben mit den Ahnen, Museum für Völkerkunde, Berlin 1996, p. 56, ill. 3.1.

Price: 500 - 1000 €

14 Canoe prow

This object is not available any more.

Geelvink-Bay, Papua-Neuguinea

wood, dark brown patina, narrow, board-shaped projection with incised ornaments, crowned by a stylized birds figure with long beak, dam., cracks, paint rubbed off, place of repair (beak), on metal base

L: 55 cm, (5087/002)
L: 21.7 inch

Price: 500 - 1000 €

15 Orator stool

This object is not available any more.

Iatmul, Papua-Neuguinea

wood, mat patina, remains of pigments, a standing male figure rising from a round base, leaning on a stool with two struts in form of elongated mask faces, crowned by an oval head, the eyes inset with cowrie snails, showing a pierced septum and shell disc earrings, dam., cracks, missing parts, slight signs of abrasion; such stools, carved in one piece, belong to the most sacred relics of a clan. They were kept in special ritual houses. The speaker stood aside the stool in order to bring forward his requests. He spoke - so to say - in the presence and with the protection of the clan spirit inhabiting the stool.

H: 134 cm, (5125/024)
H: 52.8 inch

Provenance
Coll. Peter Schnell, Zurich, Switzerland
P. Wirtz, Basel, Switzerland

Literature
Aumann, Georg, Kunst und Kunsthandwerk aus Neu Guinea, Ausst.kat., Naturwissenschaftliches Museum, Coburg 1986, p. 86

Price: 15000 - 30000 €

16 Ritual figure

This object is not available any more.

Maprik, Papua-Neuguinea

wood, red and yellow ochre, white pigment, a post-shaped body supporting an extremely bulging abdomen, the big head with beard and diadem-shaped head crest, dam. cracks (bottom and backside), paint rubbed off, on base; presumably depicting a male ancestor. Some resemblances to the yams ghost "wapinyan", but decisive attributes missing: the bush chicken between the legs, the head ornament and the net-like ornaments all over the body.

H: 68 cm, (5112/007)
H: 26.8 inch

Literature
Koch, Gert, Kultur der Abelam, Museum für Völkerkunde Berlin 1968, ill. 39 f.

Price: 1500 - 3000 €

17 Ancestor figure

This object is not available any more.

Ramu-River, Papua-Neuguinea

light-weighted wood, reddish brown patina, kaolin, characterized by a big, tapering head with curvilinear ornaments and by the beak-like nose with pierced septum, elaborate carving, old inscription backside "Dr. Bäßler - Ramu 11/06", slightly dam. at the base; the "beak-style" is characteristic for figures of the Lower Sepik area and refers to the close connection between man and bird. The bird is said to carry the souls into the nether world ("soul bird").

H: 24 cm, (5122/003)
H: 9.4 inch

Provenance
Arthur Bässler, coll. in situ, before 1899
Linden-Museum, Stuttgart, Germany
Ernst Heinrich, Stuttgart/Bad Cannstatt, Germany

Literature
Aumann, Georg, Kunst und Kunsthandwerk aus Neu Guinea, Ausst.kat. Natur-Museum Coburg 1986, p. 20 f.

Sold for: 3300 €

18 Lime spatula

This object is not available any more.

Sepik, Papua-Neuguinea

light brown wood, reddish brown patina, the handle carved with a standing figure with pierced septum, crowned by a lance-shaped projection, min. dam., fissures, slight signs of abrasion, on metal base; in the Sepik area, it is generally accepted that long pointed noses represent spiritual beings while short naturalistic ones portray true ancestors.

H: 33,5 cm, (5125/019)
H: 13.2 inch

Provenance
Michael Serafin, Los Angeles, USA

Price: 1000 - 2000 €

19 Triangular wickerwork mask

This object is not available any more.

Sepik, Papua-Neuguinea

lygodium, rotan, dyed with black and white pigment, circular deepened eyes with pierced holes for looking through, a vaulted mouth area with central opening, the rim spread with resin-like mass, with downy feathers affixed, slightly dam., paint rubbed off, on metal base

H: 34 cm, (5085/002)
H: 13.4 inch

Price: 500 - 1000 €

20 Overmodeled skull

This object is not available any more.

Vanuatu (bis 1980 Neue Hebriden), wohl Süd-Malekula

human skull without lower jaw, vegetable-fibre paste overmodeling the face with slightly displaced features, the face halves dyed with black pigment and decorated with white dots, min. dam.; presumably part of a complete ancestor effigy. The body consists of a cane frame overmodeled with vegetable-fibre paste. Subsequently it was painted and decorated with bark belt, breast ornaments, shells etc. The head after all is the overmodeled skull of the ancestor himself. These ancestor effigies were called "rambaramp". Traditionally they were displayed shortly after the passing of a regarded individual in the ceremonial house of his village. With the fading of memory the figures evidently lost their meaning; they were thrown out and given away or sold lateron. Even individual skulls were kept in reminiscence of deceased persons and on special occasions were taken along to the ceremonial places.

M: 23 x 14 x 16 cm, beginning 20th century (5102/001)
M: 23 x 14 x 6.3 inch, beginning 20th century (5102/001)

Provenance
Private Collection, Belgium

Literature
Kaufmann, Christian, Vanuatu - Kunst aus der Südsee, Basel 1997, ill. 134 and 163, p. 116
Newton, Douglas (ed.), Arts of the South Seas, The Collection of the Musée Barbier-Mueller, München, London, New York 1999, p. 297

Sold for: 3000 €