New Guinea canoe paddle-stirring ladle-figurative spear-New Guinea Art-Oceanic Art
Schouten Island figurative canoe paddle from a Phoenix private collection and the first time on the market in 50 years. It has a classic seated long nose ancestral spirit figure with hands resting on the knees. The paddle dates to the 1930/40s, is 87” (221 cm) in height.
Huge Massim culture sago stirring ladle. In certain feasts sago is prepared in huge bowls and stirred with such a ladle in a melodic, ritual manner. This one comes from a private Phoenix collection, the first time on the market in over 50 years. It stands 101 ½” (257.8 cm) in height.
Ancient Abelam figurative spear, pre-contact, stone-carved, ex. Ben Birillo Collection, ex. Jolika Collection of John and Marcia Friede. Published in my “Art of the Abelam” catalog of 2015, no. 49, p. 121. It stands 87 ½” (222.3 cm) in height, dates to the 19th century.