Lower Sepik kundu drum with 2 small Sepik masks - Ramu - Papua New Guinea
Period: Around 1920 or earlier
Length: 69 cm
Very good condition / traces of use
Very nice patina
This superb lower Sepik drum has 2 sculpted faces with the typical scarifications on the forehead and the long nose.
A superb museum quality drum from the Lower Sepik : Ramu region.
Fijian Ula throwing wooden war club of the Ula Drisia type - Archipelago Of The Fiji Islands - Oceania - Polynesian art
Country : Fiji
Period: 19th Century
Length: 40 cm
A superb quality Fijian ula wooden throwing war club used in battles to throw at the enemy.
In perfect condition - Beautiful brown red patina of use
Exceptional Solomon Islands wooden paddle or leaf shaped war club Oceanic / Melanesian war club 19th century
Region : Solomon Islands
Age : 19th century
Length = 118 cm
A paddle or leaf shaped war club of the Solomon Islands.
This particular club has a beautiful dark brown to black glossy patina due to age and use.
In very good condition with traces of use and wear.
Exceptional Solomon Islands wooden club of the nggela or kila type Oceanic club 19th century
Region : Solomon Islands / Florida Island
Type : nggela or kila club
Age : 19th century
Length = 125 cm
A nggela or kila is a war club of the Florida Island in the Solomon Islands.
Often the fine woven binding of the club is missing. In this particular item the binding is still there but has some missing parts.
This particular club has a beautiful patina due to age and use.
In very good condition.
Exceptional Solomon Islands wooden club Qauata type Oceanic club San Cristobal / Makira Island 19th century
Region : Solomon Islands / San Cristobal / Makira Island
Type : Qauata club / parrying shield
Age : 19th century
Length = 160 cm
A qauata or qauaata is a parrying shield or war club of the San Cristobal Island in the Solomon Islands.
It was used to deflect the enemy’s arrows and spears. It has a leaf-shaped head. This particular club has a beautiful patina due to age and use.
In perfect condition.
SOLD
Exceptional Sepik mask of the brag type, Murik Lakes , Mouth Of the Lower Sepik / Ramu Papua New Guinea
A lovely patina and traces of red/brown ochres.
Length: 47 cm
Very good condition
Exceptional piece and museum quality (please see photos)
Early 20th century ca 1920/1930.
Note : This mask was created by an artist from the Murik people on the Murik Lagoon off the Coastal Sepik River in the East Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea. Friede (2005: 90, text to cat. 45) notes: "This is a classic Murik mask of exceptional quality. It represents a specific war spirit or spiritman (brag) named Emang (Lipset 1997: 136). When it and other sacred Murik objects were carved, the artist sequestred himself in the men's house, employed magic leaves, and recited incantations called timits. [...] Bien and Avis 1975: 17 state: 'All important [Murik] masks have the spider design occuring on them somewhere. The spider is the perfect designer. The fine, precise lines of its web and the intricacy of the design it produces symbolize the kind of perfection the carver himself is aiming at.'
"The role of these masks in headhunting is described as follows: 'Brag masks [masqueraders] came down from the houses. They were richly decorated and shook as they surrounded the head [of the headhunted victim]. The spirit [mask] slurped at the blood about the head and then shoved it to the next mask. Blood dripped from the mouths of the masks' (Schmidt in Lipset 1997: 197).