Selected Objects
Tami Islands ceremonial spoon
Tami Islands ceremonial spoon
A TAMI ISLAND MASTERPIECE
A 19th Century ritual spoon from Tami Islands, Huon Gulf, Papua New Guinea.
This spoon made by a Tami Islands master carver is very rare with a magnificent ancestor figure standing on top of the handle. The stylized legs of the figure is both legs and body of a fish curved in a circle. The spoon has also a very fine carved ancestor head on the middle part. The powerful ancestor figure combined with excellent craftmanship and balance gives this object a very strong expression.
The patina from long time usage is fantastic, figure and head encrusted with a thick layer of very glossy patina.
Excellent condition.
We are happy to introduce this earlier unknown masterpiece.
The spoon is now published in the catalog " Between the Known and Unknown: New Guinea Art from Astrolabe Bay to Morobe". Edited by Michael Hamson, 2016.
H. 55 cm, 21,65 in
First 6 photos on the spoon by Frédéric Dehaen, who took the photos for the catalog.
Price on request