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Fine Old Marupai Charms Papuan Gulf Area, Papua New Guinea 19th Century
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| Collection No. | SOLD |
|---|---|
| Size | 6-7cm |
Two Fine Old Marupai Charms Papuan Gulf Area, Papua New Guinea 19th Century
These beautifully carved dwarf coconuts called Marupai were important magical charms or amulets that most men would have had. The incised designs highlighted with infilled lime are based on clan totems. Each clan would have its own style of Marupai unique to them. T
hey had immense spiritual power that could be used in many ways. The people from the Papuan Gulf Area on the South Coast of Papua New Guinea were some of the finest artists from the Island of New Guinea. Their great ceremonial and spiritual cycles took years to complete and many types of artworks were produced for these traditional ceremonies, the main ones that people are familiar with are Gope Boards , Gope are also known as Kwoi in the Kikori , Baimaru . Uruma, Hohao, and Orokolo areas of the Papuan Gulf. They represent the spirits of ancestral heroes that can protect clans from evil spirits and death.
Marupai Charms were used for:
“ They were used for magic such as to protect a man & his family from being attacked through the spirit world and sorcery.
They were used to send and deliver messages to other people with Marupai through the spirit world.
They were used in warfare to confuse an enemy with their powers
They were used as hunting charms for finding wild pigs & cassowary birds.
They were used to transport a person magically from one place to another.
They were used to control the weather “
These charms were kept in small woven bags & sometimes hung around the neck of a sorcerer.
Provenance: Ex Toast and Rohu Sydney Collection, 19th Century. The Todd Barlin Collection of Oceanic New Guinea Art
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