Description:

Oceania, Papua New Guinea, ca. mid-20th century CE. A hollowed-out gourd of a piriform shape used to hold large volumes of crushed lime powder. A slender applicator rod carved from ungulate bone rests within the open mouth atop the vessel and is adorned with vegetal fiber tassels as well as dozens of petite cowrie snail shell ornaments. Lime powder is an essential ingredient in betel chewing and is combined orally with leaves from a betel-pepper plant and crushed areca nuts to produce an intoxicating mixture. Size: 2.75" W x 16.3" H (7 cm x 41.4 cm); 18.3" H (46.5 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection

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#141664

  • Condition: Losses to some cowrie shells and fraying to areas of fiber tassels as shown. Light encrustations and staining to body. Nice patina to body and applicator. Old inventory sticker on verso of body.

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November 19, 2020 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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