Lot 4
Oceania, eastern Papua New Guinea, Tami or Umboi (Siassi) Islands, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. A massive feasting bowl, boat-shaped and carved from a single piece of dense kwila wood, hand-hollowed and adorned with incised, lime-filled motifs. Anthropomorphic faces symbolizing balum spirits appear at each end, while abstract crocodilian or reptilian forms frame the rim and handle zones - designs closely tied to clan identity. Once a key center of regional trade, the Tami Islands produced these bowls for exchange with neighboring communities. By the early 20th century, this tradition declined due to colonial disruption and the migration of skilled Tami navigators. The neighboring Siassi Islanders continued the practice, replicating Tami forms, though often for export. While these bowls once served as heirlooms or bride price, their central role was in communal feasting, used to serve traditional dishes like yams and porong. Size: 39" L x 18" W x 10" H (99.1 cm x 45.7 cm x 25.4 cm)
Provenance: Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA; Gift of Jonathan and Linda Batkin, November 2020; ex-World Museum, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.
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#195894
- Condition: Old inventory number on the interior basin. Some abrasions and scratches, but otherwise intact and excellent. Some losses to lime in the recessed areas and nice patina.
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