A Superb Old Kanak Bird Head Club New Caledonia 19th Century
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| Collection No. | T-5630 |
|---|---|
| Size | Height 77cm |
A Superb Old Kanak Bird Head Club New Caledonia 19th Century (Height 77cm)
The distinctively shaped Bird Head Clubs of New Caledonia were prestigious objects created for use by chiefs. The clubs symbolized wealth and high rank, and on some occasions served as gifts during ceremonial exchanges.
The Kanak Birds Head Clubs are called porowa ra maru in the Kanak Language. This very elegant Club is carved from a single piece of hardwood, the reddish-coloured hardwood gets a beautiful warm patina from generations of use & handling.
The heads of the clubs are carved in the form of stylized bird heads typically distinguished, as here, by long, pointed beaks. However, as none of New Caledonia’s indigenous birds has a similar beak, some scholars have suggested that the image instead represents the head of a sea turtle with its projecting, beaklike mouth.
This example is in very fine original condition and one of the best Kanak Clubs I have owned in 40 years.
Provenance: Old Collection Australia late 19th Century
The Todd Barlin Collection of Kanak & Oceanic Art
See my new 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.
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