A Superb Old New Guinea Massim Wealth Spatula Milne Bay Province Papua New Guinea

A Superb Old New Guinea Massim Wood and Red Shell Money Wealth Spatula from the Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea

This beautiful Wealth Spatula is called Ghena Ngaa is one of the most elegant forms of traditional wealth made in New Guinea.  The form is of an upturned canoe and was used primarily as a wealth item that is presented to a widow as the final bride price payment when her husband dies.

The final funeral ceremonies can take years to plan as it requires large amounts of traditional food to feed the many guests for the ceremony that can last up to one week. The feast essentially cleans the widow allowing her to remarry.  The Ghena are the most important objects kept by families in memory of the dead.

Ghena is made in both wood & turtle shell and both are made solely to display the beautiful red shell money discs that represent not only great wealth but the traditional status of the family of the deceased.

This fine example I have kept this for a very long time just to enjoy looking at it each day.

Provenance:  The Todd Barlin Collection of 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 in both French and English

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.