Lot: 25

75th tribal art auction

Squatting male ritual figure

Papua New Guinea, Abelam

Provenance Size Starting price / estimated price
Pauline Missionary Association
Pacific Art Gallery, Melbourne, Australia (1985)
H: 16.9 inch 1200 EUR
plus 27 % commission, VAT, transport and insurance

light wood, painted in traditional colours (red and yellow ochre, white and black paint), in half-relief carved from a block of wood, grooved decor on the backside, slightly dam., cracks (partly end-to-end), abrasion of paint, on metal plate;
reminding of the depiction of yams spirits "wapinyan". Carved for looking at it from two sides.