Male figure · Solomon Islands · ID: 3052138
Starting price
EUR 3,000
Estimated price
EUR 5,000
Provenance
Henry Erfeling (1901-1990), Lübeck, Germany (coll. in situ, 1930-34)Family-owned since then
Size
H: 44,5 cm
H: 17.5 inch
Description
wood, paint,
Crispin Howarth published stylistically similar figures, whose origins he traces back to figures of the “kaisa” type, which were used in wedding ceremonies or “watawut” initiation ceremonies, depending on their place of origin (cf. Howarth, 2011, p. 56f.).
The present figure displays the typical voluminous hairstyle known as “tchirke”. The back and sides of the head are flattened and the nose is extremely long and narrow, which corresponds to the prevailing ideal of beauty. According to reports from 1935, the heads and noses of babies were manipulated accordingly.
Comparing literature
Howarth, Crispin, Varilaku, Pacific Arts from the Solomon Islands, Canberra 2011, p. 54 ff.