Figure "malagan" ·  Papua New Guinea - Bismarck Archipelago - New Ireland · ID: 3032179

Description

light-weighted wood, remains of red, black and white pigment, standing male figure rising from a post fragment, presumably once holding a saurian in front of the body, of which only a part of the tail is preserved, large head with flat chin and pierced ear ornament, eyes with turquoise porcelain inlay, remains of ornamental paint dam., rep. (tail of the saurian, left forearm), paint rubbed off, on plate;
presumably representing an “n’gass” spirit.

The object Figure “malagan” with the object ID 3032179 was part of the auction 68th tribal art auction on March 3, 2012. The object with the lot number 64 achieved a sales price of EUR 4,500 with an asking price of EUR 2,500.

You can find more Figures, Malagan and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on Oceanian art.

Comparing literature

Meyer, Anthony J.P., Ozeanische Kunst, Vol. II, Köln 1995, p. 345 f.