Description:

Oceania, Papua New Guinea, Sepik River region, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A fine wood mortar featuring a pair of nude male caryatids - perhaps intended as ancestors - standing on an integral base as the bowl balances atop their heads. Each stylized figure presents a giant head with huge, almond-shaped eyes and a broad nose set atop wide shoulders with arms falling to their sides. Their muscular bodies feature bulbous legs flanking an erect phallus, while incised designs of ceremonial scarification adorn their chests and arms. This mortar would have been used for pulverizing lime powder - an essential ingredient in betel chewing that is combined orally with leaves from a betel-pepper plant and crushed areca nuts to produce an intoxicating mixture. Remains of lime powder can still be seen in the bowl of this vessel. Size: 2" L x 2.6" W x 5.6" H (5.1 cm x 6.6 cm x 14.2 cm)

Provenance: ex-old private Ohio, USA collection, acquired in the 1970s; ex-private Midwest, USA collection, 1970s

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#178878

  • Condition: Chip to rim and expected light nicks and surface wear commensurate with age as shown. Otherwise, intact and excellent with nice preservation of detail and good patina throughout. Liberal remains of lime powder in bowl.

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July 21, 2023 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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