Collingwood Bay Neckrest with Geometric Design
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 in 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 it here in a wonderful way. I field collected this one in Uiaku village in the Maisin language group where neckrests were called “gira kukai.” The piece shows significant age and use, is 7 1/8” (18.2 cm) wide by 5 ½” (14 cm) in height, dates to the early 20th century. I published it in my 2009 catalog “Art of the Massim & Collingwood Bay” no. 157. In the catalog this is how I described the piece:
This was created by an artist content with breaking the convention. The overall design is traditional in that it involves a combination of inward and outward pointing chevrons. However, in this headrest six of the usual openwork sections have been replaced by solid triangular shapes that mark the transitions from inward to outward pointed chevrons. The solidity of these forms contrasts nicely with the thin spokes. Cutting the main design in half is a band of wood that has a row of incised chevrons—that alternate from outward to inward. These details are in-filled with white lime that makes a strong contrast against the dark brown wood. The thinness of the wood and the evident dexterity of the carver suggest this headrest was the work of a master.
The price is $3500