A Superb Old New Guinea Food Pounder Coastal Sepik River Area Papua New Guinea

A Superb Old New Guinea Food Pounder Coastal Sepik River Area Papua New Guinea from 19th to early 20th Century 

This superb old Food Pounder is from the Coastal Sepik Area or Schouten Islands and it was used for smashing taro root into a pudding. The finely carved finial is in the form of an important clan male ancestor with a possum or cuscus on his head.  People in New Guinea made very beautiful daily-use objects like this food pounder that were always a reminder of their powerful clan ancestors.

Carved from a single piece of hardwood and it has a deep dark patina from years of use and from being stored in a smokey house.  Old pounders like this one were family heirlooms passed down through generations.

Provenance: The Dr Peter Elliot Collection Sydney Australia ( 1927-2014) Dr Elliot was a great collector of Oceanic Art and Indonesian among a large collection of Australian Indigenous & non-indigenous fine art.  Parts of his collection are now in major public collections around Australia and around the world.

The Todd Barlin Collection of Papua New Guinea and Oceanic Art

I first went to Papua New Guinea in 1985 for an adventure & what I found was that I really enjoyed being with the people of New Guinea, over the next 38 years I spent extensive time spent collecting and documenting traditional art & ceremonies in remote areas of Papua New Guinea & West Papua, The Solomon Islands & Vanuatu & the other Pacific Islands countries. During these travels, I made major collections of New Guinea & Oceanic Art for major Museums and Public Art Galleries

I was honoured by being in the prestigious Louvre Museum Magazine for the collections I made for The Museum of African & Oceanic Art Paris in 1996 (now the Musee Quai Branly) for the exhibition “Asmat et Mimika d’ Irian Jaya April 1996 At THE MUSEE NATIONAL des ARTS D’AFRIQUE et d’ OCEANIE, Paris

See all of the links & photos in my new EXHIBITIONS GALLERY and there is the link to the article in the prestigious Louvre Magazine 1996

I have artwork for Museums & 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 specialises in New Guinea & Oceanic Art. Sydney is just a couple hours’ flight to New Guinea & the Pacific Islands where all of these amazing artworks came from, Australia’s closest neighbours.

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.