Neck rest, 19th century ·  Papua New Guinea - Huon Gulf - Tami Islands · ID: 3052593

Description

wood, blackish brown patina,

A noteworthy detail is the legs and feet of the kneeling caryatid figures, which are integrated into the sides of the flat base plate. This feature is found specifically in early examples of Tami neckrests and, in the present piece, can be seen as an indication that it was created before or at least at the beginning of European contact.

The master carvers of the Huon Gulf are renowned for their beautiful artworks. The artistic creativity of this relatively small group of people was already recognized at the end of the 19th century.

In his seminal 1961 work on the material culture of the Huon Gulf region, Tibor Bodrogi provides a comprehensive overview of the variety of headrests common in the area.

Comparing literature

Bodrogi, Tibor, Art in North-East New Guinea, Budapest 1961, p. 91 ff. Hamson, Michael, New Guinea Art from Astrolabe Bay to Morobe, Palos Verdes 2016, p. 73