A Superb Old New Guinea Drum Papuan Gulf Area South Coast Papua New Guinea

See more Fine Drums in Drums Gallery 

A Superb Old New Guinea Drum Papuan Gulf Area South Coast Papua New Guinea

This beautiful old Drum is from the Papuan Gulf Area on the South Coast of Papua New Guinea.  This hourglass-shaped drum is often referred to as a Kundu which is the Papua New Guinea pidgin English term for this type of drum.  Old drums like this fine example were family heirlooms often used over several generations of a family.  This Shark Mouth form drum is finely incised with ancestors’ faces in high relief along with clan designs.  The lug handle and whole drum have a deep old shiny black patina from use and storage over decades.  The use of drums are very important to all traditional ceremonies where drumming and singing relate stories of ancient ancestral beings who are invoked for protection & fertility.

During my many visits to Papua New Guinea & West Papua in the 1980’s I was fortunate to be in villages where an important ceremony was to take place, it usually always proceeded with drumming and singing coming from the men’s ceremonial house. Drums were kept in good sound by putting some small balls of wax on the drum skin and then leaving the head of the drum close to a fire, this tightened the drum head & made the voice of the drums deeper. Drumming would often go on all night until daybreak, the people never got tired of playing their drums and signing nor did I ever get tired of listing to the drumming & singing, it was beautiful.  Above are a few photos of men playing their drums and singing in different villages ( not this drum in this listing )

This drum would date from the late 19th to early 20th Century.  It’s in very good condition

The Todd Barlin Private Collection of New Guinea Art 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 in1996 (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. 

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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.