Beautiful lime spatula ·  Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinée, Iatmul · ID: 3041632

Description

wood, rich brown patina with remains of black pigment, artfully carved handle: bird figure with two heads, ending in mask face, respectively scrolled motif (stylized hornbill beak), slightly dam., abrasion of paint, acrylic base;
spatulas for mixing lime and betel nut were ubiquitous in the Sepik region and while all conformed to a basic utilitarian shape - narrow blade attached to a handle - the styles of decoration were infinite.