Description:

Oceania, Papua New Guinea, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A tall sago pounder of a hefty form carved from palm wood with an elongated conical pounder on one end and a stylized crocodile head on the other. The pounding end has smooth surfaces indicative of use and tapers to a narrow bottom point perfect for pulverizing palm stems and other vegetal matter. The tapered neck is decorated with a zigzagging central register beneath a projecting crocodile head with a narrow snout and tab-shaped eyes. Sago is a starch extracted from the spongy center of various tropical palm stems and is a major food staple for indigenous Papuans. Size: 2.625" W x 18.8" H (6.7 cm x 47.8 cm); 19.875" H (50.5 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection

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#142671

  • Condition: Abrasions to pounder, handle, and head, with several stable fissures along one side, otherwise intact and very good. Nice lustrous patina throughout.

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February 11, 2021 10:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
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