A Superb Old New Guinea Korwar Canoe Ornament Geelvink Bay West Papua Irian Jaya Indonesia.

A Superb Old New Guinea Korwar Canoe Ornament Geelvink Bay West Papua Irian Jaya Indonesia. Dating from the late 19th to very early 20th century

See all of my GALLERIES HERE  https://www.oceanicartsaustralia.com/fine-tribal-art/   

SEE CANOE PROWS GALLERY HERE https://www.oceanicartsaustralia.com/fine-tribal-art/new-guinea-tribal-art-oceanic-art/canoe-ornaments/

This finely carved old Canoe Prow Ornament is from the Geelvink Bay area on the North Coast of West Papua, Indonesia. It was placed at the very front of the canoe.  When I field collected this canoe ornament 39 years ago it was being kept by a family as an heirloom carving from their Great Grandfather, these heirloom carvings were kept by families and used as wedding dowries as an important cultural artwork.  This Canoe Ornament in the field photo is the same ( see attached photo)

They said it was off a large type of ocean-going war canoe that is no longer made due to the use of aluminum boats that don’t take months for a community to build as was done with dugout tree canoes made in earlier generations.   This is the finest and largest Geelvink Bay Canoe Ornament I collected in the 6 months of traveling in this area, I stayed with many families who treated me with great kindness & hospitality.

The fine open-work carving shows the great skill of the carver & at the top are two large Korwar Ancestor Heads, one with remnants of cassowary feathers that were to depict hair.  This Northwest part of the island of New Guinea had plenty of trade links with SE Asia, especially with the Moluccu Islands in Eastern Indonesia where many shared designs have come from.

It comes on a custom steel display stand that makes it look like it’s floating.

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of New Guinea Oceanic Art  Biography Here https://www.oceanicartsaustralia.com/art-for-sale/oceanic-art-society-interview-by-margaret-cassidy/

See my new Exhibitions Gallery Here  EXHIBITIONS GALLERY  showing the Museums and Art Galleries Exhibitions that I provided artworks for over the past 40 years. There is the link to the article about my artworks published in the prestigious Louvre Magazine in 1996

I have artwork for Museums and art Galleries but also for collectors at every stage of their collecting. I want to encourage people to explore the fine art of New Guinea & West Papua and the Pacific Islands and to be able to see and touch the artworks in a relaxed and friendly manner in my Sydney Gallery. I would like to invite you to visit my gallery and see the artworks in person and also look at my website www.oceanicartsaustralia.com where there are many Galleries & Sub Galleries to explore.

My Gallery of nearly 40 years is the last physical gallery in Sydney that specializes in New Guinea and Oceanic Art.  Sydney is very close to New Guinea & the Pacific Islands where all of these amazing artworks came from, Australia’s closest neighbors.

INQUIRE HERE

If you have a similar “object” for sale please contact me for the best price and honest advice by a Government approved valuer 

To see many more rare items and the finest masterpieces, please make an appointment with us to visit the gallery.

For all inquiries, please contact us