Two Old Carved Birds, New Ireland and Solomon’s, 19th Century

These two very elegant old carved wood birds, the larger one is a fragment off of a New Ireland Malangan Figure dating from the 19th Century it is 28cm long and previously from the Berry Collection in Melbourne. The other smaller Bird is from the Solomon Islands and possibly off of a canoe ornament as it has an old weathered patina, 14cm tall.

Birds in New Guinea are one of the most important totemic animals that are represented in many types of ceremonial artworks.

Birds in New Guinea art can be important clan totems and also anthropomorphic spirit beings that are half-man; primordial bird-men and bird-women, who originally created the sacred musical instruments, consisting of bamboo flutes and slit gongs that were kept within the ceremonial houses and played a central role in the ritual life of their communities.

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of Oceanic Arts