Spatula wealth display

Reference : 1617

Spatula wealth display

Cetacean bone
Height: 54cm
Period: 19th century
Aire Massim
Papua New Guinea

Source :
– Collected by Richard Aldridge in the province of Milne Bay
– Marcia and John Friede. The Jolika Collection. Rye, New York

Photo caption: Malinowski with Chief Touluwa’s favorite son, Namwabnaguyau, on his right, holding a whalebone spatula. (Malinowski 3/18/8)

More details

This exceptionally large whalebone spatula is carved and pierced at the top with small holes to hold shells (no longer present).
It has a superb dark patina, a sign of its great age.

Price: €6,800

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