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


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Collection No. TB-3629
Size Height: 48cm x 32cm Across
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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 New Guinea 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.

My Gallery of nearly 40 years is the last physical gallery in Sydney that specializes in New Guinea and Oceanic Art.  Sydney is very close to New Guinea & the Pacific Islands where all of these amazing artworks came from, Australia’s closest neighbors.

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