Papua New Guinea art objects and artifacts | neckrests
I have spent A LOT of time in the Collingwood Bay area of Oro Province, Papua New Guinea. For a number of years I went up and down the coast from the further reaches of Dyke Ackland Bay to the north to way down past Cape Vogel in the south at the border with the Massim culture. I went up every navigable river I could find and went on foot well inland in search of more remote villages. Over these years I collected many great lime spatulas and many great neckrests—the two primary objects of artistic expression besides the well known tapa clothes. Of the neckrests this one is probably the most unique. It takes the classic chevron motif found in virtually all neckrests of the area and reconfigures them here in a wonderful way. The pieces shows significant age and use, is 7 1/8” (18.2 cm) wide by 5 1/2” (14 cm) in height, dates to the early 20th century. I published this in my 2009 catalog “Art of the Massim & Collingwood Bay” no. 157—you will note I restored one corner of the upper tight neck support. The price is $4,000. Questions?