Lot 214A
Papua New Guinea, Ramu River, ca. 1940. This carved Ramu wooden Kominimung figure is an outstanding example of a one-legged gender figures, one-legged to refer to its androgynous features. The carving consists of a masked head and a torso tapering to a point which is carved as two legs in one. Such one-legged figures are employed in Ramu males' initiation rites that have been written about extensively by scholar Marilyn Strathern and Dirk A. M. Smidt. Among the Kominimung, these figures with a single, trunk-like leg portray individual bwongogo, ancestral spirits whose powers ensure the success of agriculture, hunting, fishing, and other human endeavors. These are men's sacred objects, only to be seen by men, that are safeguarded and used within the vicinity of the men's ceremonial house. Only the most skilled carvers whose talents are known and recognized in the community are permitted to carve Kominimung one-legged figures. Since women and children are not permitted to see these figures, the artists work in secluded areas of the forest outside of the village or within the men's house compound. It is common practice for the artists to sit together when carving so that they can discuss and critique one another's work. Despite the fact that they are creating sacred objects, they work in a light-hearted atmosphere, joking and gossiping as they carve. "If we crack jokes, the work is light; if we don't, the work is heavy." (Smidt, Kamoro Art: Tradition and Innovation in a New Guinea Culture, 2012, p. 105) This said, these artists take their work quite seriously, constantly striving to perfect the form and ornamentation of their individual creations. In the words of Pita Mangal, a highly revered Kominimung carver, "A woodcarver must concentrate, think well and be inspired. You must think hard which motif you want to cut in the wood. And you must feel this inside, in your heart." (Smidt, 2012, p. 101) This particular figure with its impressive form and painstakingly detailed carving technique is an ideal manifestation of Mangal's philosophy and approach . ~51"H x 5"W at widest point x 3"D
Provenance: Ex-Kevin Conru Collection, London, UK; Ex-Allen Christensen Collection, London, UK.
All items in this auction are legal to buy/sell under U.S. statute covering cultural patrimony per United States Code 2600, CHAPTER 14 -- CONVENTION ON CULTURAL PROPERTY, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
- Condition: One hairline crack on front and one on back side. Else intact and excellent to near choice.
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
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| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $25,000 |