Magnificent New Guinea TELEFOMIN HOUSE BOARD w/ Bold Pigments!
MAGNIFICENT NEW GUINEA TELEFOMIN HOUSE BOARD
Origin: New Guinea, West Sepik Province bordering Sandaun Province, Telefomin
People
(Provenance: Collected by Marc Siegler in the late 1950's in the Telefomin area. Ex. British Empire and Commonwealth Institute Museum, Bristol England. The Tribal artifacts in the museum were sold in 2008 after they announced they were closing and moving to London.)
Period/Date: Likely circa 1940s
Materials: Harwood, ocher, lime and charcoal pigments
Description: This panel would have been displayed, with various others, from the exterior of a Man's house. We know it is a "house panel" as opposed to a "shield" because there is only a single hole on top. Although it could easily be used as a shield, technically shields have two side holes for the carrying handle. It is deeply carved featuring a dazzling geometric motif. The black lines are often interpreted as a stylized figure. The layered and encrusted white, bright-orange and black pigments are bold, intact and stable. The backside is dark and fire-hardened showing textured adze marks. There is fragmented old Port Moresby paper export label on the back side. Old material culture from the Telefomin is now very hard to find. This one in particular has powerful graphics and is beautiful in person!
Dimensions: Height 62" (157.5 cm), Width 18.5" (46 cm)
**Note shipping to AU or the EU will be by UPS Air. The estimated cost is between $500 & $650.