Betel nut mortar · Papua New Guinea - Huon Gulf, Tami Islands · ID: 3039030
not available anymore
Provenance
Old German Colonial CollectionSize
H: 22,5 cm
H: 8.9 inch
Description
wood, dark brown patina, foot in shape of a stylized human ancestor figure with crocodile at his back, linear ornaments, white pigment in the deepenings, slightly dam., abrasion of paint;
Tami is the name of a small island situated in the Huon-Golf. Its inhabitants were specialized on wood carving and trading. So by the time the term “tami” described various products of different origin. Important products of the “tami” carvers were wooden dishes, headrests and betel nut mortars.