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A large orators stool, Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, the…
Sale Title:
Auction House:
Auction Location:
Melbourne
Date:
9-Jul-2023
Lot No.
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Description:
A large orators stool, Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, the elongated head with feather 'hairs', cowrie shells across the forehead leading to three horns above the bridge of the nose with flaring nostrils, the intricately pigment decorated face with shell inset eyes, stylised with bared teeth and extended tongue set into an asymmetrical jaw framed with a cowrie shell beard and grass fringing, the upper back and shoulders incised with cowrie shell eyed alligator totems, the arms and torso carved and painted with markings resembling scarification, the figure wearing a woven koteka, seated up on a stool supported by backwards facing legs, 190 cm high. Other Notes: This artifact is known as an Orator's stool and was used in the north of the Sepik and Chambri Lakes, Papua New Guinea., Each Haus Tambaran (cult house) has such a stool which is used only on ceremonial speech making occasions when the Orator strikes the seat part with a bundle of leaves to emphasise his main points. The Orator's stool represents the collective wisdom of the clan's departed ancestors who return at the time of such ceremonies to guide and instruct the discussions.
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Unclassified