Fine Old Sago Stirrer Huon Gulf Area Morobe Province Papua New Guinea 19th C

Three Fine Old Sago Stirrer from Tami or Siassi Islands in the Huon Gulf Area Morobe Province Papua New Guinea Dating from the late 19th century 

These beautiful utilitarian objects are used for food preparation when making a Sago Pudding. They are finely carved with ancestors’ heads as the main design motif on both sides of the Stirrers. The ancestor’s heads have fine-incised clan designs and long ears wearing pendulum earrings, the top of the Stirrers has a totemic bird, and the other a totemic snake carved in high relief.  Carved from a single piece of hardwood and it has a dark old patina from years of use and handling. Old pounders like these were family heirlooms passed down through generations

People in the Huon Gulf made very beautiful daily-use objects like these food stirrers that were decorated with ancestral images that provided a daily visual reminder of their powerful clan ancestors.

When you look through the photos carefully you will see these are beautiful sculptural artworks, they are all on custom-made display stands, and the three together look amazing.

Some of the finest carvers in New Guinea come from the area in the Huon Gulf, they were master carvers and well known for their superb oval-shaped wood bowls that were traded far and wide.

Provenance: Collected in 1927 by Dr Edwin Archibald Holland who was in New Guinea working from 1927 to 1933.

The Todd Barlin Collection of New Guinea Art & Oceanic Art