Tami Island Ladle Handle with Figures-New Guinea Art-Oceanic Art
Most of you are probably familiar with the long handled wooden ladles from the Tami Islands/Huon Gulf region with elongated scoops carved from a single piece of wood. Much rarer are ones with wooden handles that were made so that a coconut shell cup could be lashed to the end—such as this present piece. Thanks to the dear Tibor Bodrogi we know that this type of ladle was used exclusively for serving a sauce made from coconut milk that was poured over fried sago (Art in North-East New Guinea, 1961, p. 106). Adorning the handle are two stout figures in the classic style of bent legs, hands to hip with the head sunk below the shoulders, chin resting on the chest—a powerful, contained, almost militaristic posture. The piece is ex. Brant Mackley Gallery, ex. Tad Dale, dates to the late 19th century, is 26 ¼” (66.5 cm) in height and sells for $3500.