Online catalogue for the 68th tribal art auction

31 Mask of a spiritual being

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Sepik

wood, blackish brown grounding, painted with red, white and indigo blue pigment, slanting eyes framed with concentrical grooves, elongated bow-shaped nose bridge, curved ornaments, drillings around the rim, inventory number in red paint backside "1963.17" (year of acceptance in the Rose Art Museum), slightly dam., fine cracks, paint rubbed off; 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 might represent a mythical spirit called "tangbwal". These spirits were called forth to regulate the food supply in preparation for ceremonial feasts. When enough coconuts had ripened, the "tangbwal" left the village on a mythical vessel represented by a decorated platform in the shape of a canoe.

L: 67 cm
L: 26.4 inch

Provenance
Helen S. Slosberg, Boston, USA
Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University, Waltham/Boston/Massachusetts, USA (60's of 20th century)
Mark Blackburn, Mauna Kea Gallery, Honolulu/Hawaii, USA

Literature
Meyer, Anthony J.P., Ozeanische Kunst, Vol. I, Köln 1995, p. 193

Sold.

32 Suspension hook in shape of a mask face

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Sepik

heavy wood, brown patina, white pigment, painted with curved ornaments, nose with pierced septum, drilling for suspension on top, sickle-shaped hook, slightly dam., cracks, abrasion; while utilitarian hooks were only rarely carved, those used in the Men's House were elaborately sculpted as representations of important ancestors and mythological beings.

H: 82 cm
H: 32.3 inch

Provenance
Joel Gauvin, South Brunswick/Victoria, Australia

Sold.

33 Suspension hook

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Sepik

wood, dark brown patina, red pigment, unusual form: cylindrical base with three thorn-like vertical appendages for suspension of various items, a long neck carved with two mask faces and a small ancestor spirit figure in the middle, massive upper part with hole for attachment, slightly dam., cracks, on base; in the most areas of Melanesia suspension hooks belong to "household articles". They are fixed to the ceiling by lianas and can be pulled up and down. They serve to hang up baskets and nets with food or important utensils in order to protect them against mice and rats.

H: 56 cm
H: 22 inch

Provenance
Jan Lundberg, Malmö, Sweden

Literature
Kelm, Heinz, Kunst vom Sepik, Band I, Berlin 1966, ill. 25
Aumann, Georg, Kunst und Kunsthandwerk aus Neu Guinea, Coburg 1986, p. 90 f.

Price: 4000 - 8000 €

34 Headrest

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Sepik

wood, reddish brown patina, elegant form: a slightly hollowed pillow, supported by a massive rectangular intermediate piece with two stylized toucan heads on either side, slightly dam., abrasion, traces of use

B: 30 cm; H: 10,5 cm
B: 11.8 inch; H: 4.1 inch

Price: 900 - 1200 €

35 Stool

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Sepik

wood, greyish brown patina, white and red pigment, in shape of a composite being with bird head and tail, the compact flanks carved with legs, the skid-like base added later, two drilled holes in the seat, slightly dam., minor missing parts, paint rubbed off

H: 19 cm; L: 54 cm
H: 7.5 inch; L: 21.3 inch

Provenance
Hubert Caspers, Hamburg, Germany

Sold.

36 Two hand drums "kundu"

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Sepik

wood, brown patina, traces of white pigment, in shape of an hour-glass, the bigger drum with small remains of the covering with lizard skin, rotan rings of both drums missing, rep. (cracks partly spread with blackish mass); the crocodiles represent the two major components of the cosmos: the sky and the earth. The two sound chambers are also symbolically related to earth and sky. The handle of the drum establishing a link between the two worlds.

H: 43 cm & 34 cm
H: 16.9 inch & 13.4 inch

Provenance
Michael Beisert, Hamburg, Germany (collected in situ 1970-80)

Literature
Meyer, Anthony J.P., Ozeanische Kunst, Vol. I, Köln 1995, ill. 206

Price: 400 - 800 €

37 Paddle

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Sepik

wood, thick encrusted black patina, massive shaft with figural ending in shape of a male ancestor spirit figure with toucan, the paddle with stylized face on either side, slightly dam.

L: 260 cm
L: 102.4 inch

Provenance
Michael Beisert, Hamburg, Germany (collected in situ 1970-80)

Sold.

38 Axe

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Sepik

a long shaft round in cross-section with heavy cylindrical stone blade, fixed by rotan, entirely dyed with black pigment, slightly dam., cracks, paint rubbed off

L: 80 cm; L: 20 cm (Steinklinge)
L: 31.5 inch; L: 7.9 inch (Steinklinge)

Provenance
Hubert Caspers, Hamburg, Germany

Price: 250 - 500 €

39 Ritual crocodile

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Sepik Delta, Murik Lagoon

wood, reddish brown patina, red and white pigment, elongated cylindrical body with the tail tapering to a point, carved with scales, the open snout reveals rows of teeth accentuated with kaolin, completed by tusk-like projections, legs missing, slightly dam., minor missing part (underside), abrasion; in the Sepik area depictions of animals are not only meant as accessory part but as individual beings - incarnations of "totems" - which act as guardian and helping spirit and which are venerated in case to keep them well disposed. Aside crocodiles incarnate the so-called "gulping monster", used at initiation rites.

L: 83 cm
L: 32.7 inch

Provenance
Albert Hahl, Colonial Official and Gouverneur of German New Guinea

Literature
Aumann, Georg, Kunst und Kunsthandwerk aus Neu Guinea, Coburg 1986, p. 113 f.

Price: 4500 - 9000 €

40 Big wickerwork mask "didagur"

This object is not available any more.

Papua New Guinea - Middle Sepik

rattan, red, white and black pigment, feathers, rattan framework, coated with lygodium wickerwork, a raised nose ridge with trunk-like prolongation, min. dam., traces of abrasion, small missing parts; "didagur" masks were used at initiation ceremonies. They are represented in both male and female forms, the male identified by the long nose. The latter is interpreted variously, as depiction of an Echidna head, lizard tail or frigate bird, which is known as "soul bird" all over Oceania.

H: 41 cm
H: 16.1 inch

Provenance
Boris Kegel-Konietzko, Hamburg, Germany
Hubert Caspers, Hamburg, Germany

Literature
Meyer, Anthony J.P., Ozeanische Kunst, Vol. I, Köln 1995, p. 250, ill. 273

Sold.