Spatula made from a cassowary bone

Reference : 2215

The top is adorned with three shells (cowries), banana seeds and barter beads.
Height: 255mm
Period: early 20th century.
Northern Massim area.

Provenance:
Harry Beran Collection England. HB37
John & Marcia Friede Collection. Rye New York.USA
Exhibited at the Wollongong City Gallery.

Literature:
Harry Beran. “Art of the Massim Region of Papua New Guinea. 1980. Reproduced under no. 22.

Price: €1,500

More details

This spatula was collected by Harry Beran in 1969 from the Siyoula chief. In the village of Lobua on the island of Kiriwina. The cowrie ornaments on this type of spatula were the mark of a high-ranking user.
Chief Siyoula is shown in a photograph reproduced in Harry Beran. “Betel-chewing Equipment of East New Guinea”. 1988. Fig.2

For further information, please contact us at
(+33)(0) 6 07 23 33 60, or leave us a message: