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The middle Sepik Region of New Guinea is populated primarily by the Iatmul people, inhabiting small villages along the banks of the Sepik River and its tributaries. Life in these villages centers around the Spirit House (Haus Tambaran). Within its walls are a vast display of masks,…
Continue reading → - Item Number: W-0899
- Provenance/Origin: Sepil River. New Guinea. Circa 1950-1960s
- Composition: Wood, cord and vegetal
- Dimensions: 52" long x ~5" at widest points
- Weight: 3 pounds
- Price: $ 387.00 USD
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Sumatra is just one island of the 17,000 islands in the chain called Indonesia. The cultures specific to different islands have long been isolated from one another resulting is significant diversity. Sumatra – one of Indonesia’s largest islands – it is home to the Batak tribes. Shamen…
Continue reading → - Item Number: O-6032
- Provenance/Origin: Simalungun Shaman. Lake Toba. Early 1990s
- Composition: Hardwood, hair
- Dimensions: 63" long x 2.0 - 2.5" diameter of head at top
- Weight: 2.5 pounds
- Price: $ 1,475.00 USD
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I have seen many spears from this region of New Guinea during my 50 years of collecting but not quite like this one. The intricate wood carving with its design and detail is quite spectacular. I believe it is carved from Black Palm. Black Palm is…
Continue reading → - Item Number: O-8462
- Provenance/Origin: PNG. Blackwater. Circa mid-1990s
- Composition: Wood, perhaps Black Palm
- Dimensions: 43" long x 4" at widest
- Weight: 1.25 pounds
- Price: $ 378.00 USD
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Sure, the Ibans / Dayaks were renowned for practicing headhunting to further territorial expansion. They had a fearsome reputation until the Europeans arrived with their colonization in the 1800s. Some headhunting episodes were reported into the mid-1900s. There were rituals, ceremonies and festivals all…
Continue reading → - Item Number: O-2751
- Provenance/Origin: Dayak, Indonesia, Circa 1940s. From a private collection
- Composition: Wood and metal stand
- Dimensions: 36.5" on stand x 1.5" diameter at widest point
- Weight: 2.25 pounds
- Price: $ 465.00 USD
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Detail: Shaman’s staffs (Tunggal Panahuan) were used in magic ceremonies to protect against the actions of enemies. In addition, these staffs were used as a prophetic tool for diagnosing the spiritual causes of a disease. They derive their power from a specially prepared ritual substance called Pupuk. Pupuk attracts ancestor…
Continue reading → - Item Number: O-8601
- Provenance/Origin: North Sumatra. Circa mid- 1900's
- Composition: Wood and hair
- Dimensions: 74" long without hair tuft. 3.5" thickest diameter.
- Weight: 5.5 pounds
- Price: $525.00 USD
