Lot 5
SEPIK BARK PAINTING
PAPUA NEW GUINEA, MID 20TH CENTURY
African & Oceanic Art and Antiquities
Auction: 1 May 2019 from 12:00 BST
£375
Description
sago palm spathe and pigment, shaped with a tapering end to fit into the edge of the ceiling of a men’s ceremonial house
Dimensions
124cm long
Footnote
Provenance:
Michael Hamson, California
Private collection, London
Note:
In areas of New Guinea decorative panels such as the present example were traditionally fitted onto the ceiling of the men’s ceremonial house. These buildings tended to be the largest structures in any given settlement and acted as the foci for religious ceremonies, group discussion and decision making. As such, they also were the primary centre for the creation and display of painting and sculpture.