Zemanek-Münster
Prehistoric stone mortar with anthropomorphic face, Papua New Guinea - Highlands, Size: M: 14,6 cm x 22,9 cm x 21,6 cm (M: 5.7 inch x 9.0 inch x 8.5 inch), ID: 3052674
Prehistoric stone mortar with anthropomorphic face, Papua New Guinea - Highlands, Size: M: 14,6 cm x 22,9 cm x 21,6 cm (M: 5.7 inch x 9.0 inch x 8.5 inch), ID: 3052674 - 2/7 Prehistoric stone mortar with anthropomorphic face, Papua New Guinea - Highlands, Size: M: 14,6 cm x 22,9 cm x 21,6 cm (M: 5.7 inch x 9.0 inch x 8.5 inch), ID: 3052674 - 3/7 Prehistoric stone mortar with anthropomorphic face, Papua New Guinea - Highlands, Size: M: 14,6 cm x 22,9 cm x 21,6 cm (M: 5.7 inch x 9.0 inch x 8.5 inch), ID: 3052674 - 4/7 Prehistoric stone mortar with anthropomorphic face, Papua New Guinea - Highlands, Size: M: 14,6 cm x 22,9 cm x 21,6 cm (M: 5.7 inch x 9.0 inch x 8.5 inch), ID: 3052674 - 5/7 Prehistoric stone mortar with anthropomorphic face, Papua New Guinea - Highlands, Size: M: 14,6 cm x 22,9 cm x 21,6 cm (M: 5.7 inch x 9.0 inch x 8.5 inch), ID: 3052674 - 6/7 Prehistoric stone mortar with anthropomorphic face, Papua New Guinea - Highlands, Size: M: 14,6 cm x 22,9 cm x 21,6 cm (M: 5.7 inch x 9.0 inch x 8.5 inch), ID: 3052674 - 7/7
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Lot 128
Auction 105

Prehistoric stone mortar with anthropomorphic face ·  Papua New Guinea - Highlands · ID: 3052674

Not available anymore
Provenance
Found by the previous owner in a ship’s hold during voyage from Papua New Guinea to New Zealand
John & Marcia Friede, Rye, USA
Size
M: 14,6 cm x 22,9 cm x 21,6 cm
M: 5.7 inch x 9.0 inch x 8.5 inch

Description

basalt,

The massive mortar may originate from the province of Simbu. This is suggested by the large bosses that run around the mortar in a wreath-like pattern and the eliptical eyes of the stylized anthropomorphic face.

The object Prehistoric stone mortar with anthropomorphic face with the object ID 3052674 was last part of the auction Auction 105 at November 15, 2025 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 128.

Comparing literature

Swadling, Pamela et al., Prehistoric stone artefacts from Enga (...), in: Journal de la Société des Océanistes, 126-127, Année 2008

Publications

Friede, John et. al., New Guinea Highlands. Art from the Jolika Collection, 2017, p. 31, ill. 1.22

Notices

This object is subject to the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Protection Act. Export documents are required for export (subjected to a fee).

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