Headrest ·  Papua New Guinea, Huon Gulf, Tami Islands · ID: 3032865

Description

wood, dark brown patina, white pigment, supported by a stylized janiform ancestor figure, incised ornaments accentuated by white pigment, labelled: “L. 2/9 Tami Ins. New Guinea”, clear cut forms, very good condition;
Tami is the name of a small island situated in the Huon-Golf. Its inhabitants were specialized on wood carving and trading. So by the time the term “tami” described various products of different origin. Important products of the “tami” carvers were wooden dishes, headrests and betel-nut-mortars.