Fragment of a "malagan" panel · Papua New Guinea - Bismarck Archipelago - New Ireland · ID: 3049453
Eduard von der Heydt (1882-1964), Ascona, Switzerland (1926)
Alfred Flechtheim (1887-1937), Berlin, Germany
Alex Vömel (1897-1985), Düsseldorf, Germany
German Private Collection
Description
wood, pigments, shell inlay, black clay like mass, base
The term “malagan” refers collectively to a complex series of ceremonies and the visual art forms associated with them.
Most of these impressive sculptures are commissioned for ceremonies commemorating the deceased. The celebrations include, among other things, the construction of a “malagan” house for the presentation of the art objects.
This sculpture shows a figure (man or woman) being swallowed by a fish. An image that symbolizes death in many regions of New Ireland and has
even found its way into everyday language: “big-mouth got him“.
The aim of “malagan” ceremonies is to “finish the dead”. This is done by remembering him with all his achievements for one last time - and then forgetting him. “Malagan” figures are traditionally discarded after use.
The object Fragment of a “malagan” panel with the object ID 3049453 was part of the auction 99th Auction on November 12, 2022. The object with the lot number 35 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,800 with an asking price of EUR 2,500.
You can find more Malagan and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on Oceanian art.