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• Auction House:
  Theodore Bruce
• Sale Name:
  Timed Online Auction | The Todd Barlin Collection of Oceanic and Asian Art | Day II
• Sale Date:
  09 Aug 2022 ~ 6pm (AEST)
• Lot #:
  9237
• Lot Description:
  A Beautiful Old Kwoma Minja Figure, Waskuk Area Upper Sepik River Papua New Guinea,
  Finely Carved, Ochre Painted and Decorated with Boars' Tusks.
  H 156 cm
• Notes:
  Minja is one of three distinct ceremonies held annually in the villages of the Kwoma, Nukuma and Mayo speakers of the Upper Sepik River, in a region generally referred to as the Waskuk. These ceremonies are associated with the harvesting of yams. There are two other Yam Harvest Ceremonies that are associated with a distinctive from of sculpture, Yina & Nogkwi. Minja is the second of the yam harvest ceremonies. The basic iconographic feature is a highly stylized representation of a spirit figure. The head is greatly enlarged with a prominent nose. The most striking feature of the face is the nose, a common Sepik symbol of the phallus. The shaft is associated with the yam digging stick, a tool used to dig holes for the yam planting. There is an obvious phallic and fertility symbol of the shaft (male) being thrust into the earth (female). Though strong symbols of maleness permeate the sculpt
• Estimate:
  A$1,200 - 1,800
• Realised Price:
  *****
  

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• Category:
  Tribal

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.