Whereas the inhabitants of the island of New Guinea primarily smoke tobacco for pleasure, in the furthest south-eastern extremity of New Guinea, in the so-called Massim region (Milne Bay, Trobriand Islands, Louisade Archipelago), betel nuts are chewed. For this practise, chopped areca nuts, slaked lime and flavouring additives are required. All of these ingredients are wrapped up in a leaf of the black pepper plant and then chewed.
1: A tall, narrow mortar with pestle of hard, dark wood, for chopping the betel nuts. The mortar is carved on the outside with volutes, vine bands and serrated bands in relief. In the typical decorative style of the Massim district. The pestle is offset in front of the handle, and the flat handle section displays on both sides two highly abstract bird representations in relief. H: 36 cm.
2: Three round lime containers, made out of small, hollowed coconuts. Two of the lime containers are closed with wooden stoppers and both carry stylised faces with ‘eyes’ on their upper edge. The third, smaller lime container has a closure plaited in a decorative chequerboard pattern, with a palm leaf and an animal tooth as a handle (typical for the Trobriand Islands). All three containers are decorated on their exterior with motifs consisting of bands of lines, serrated patterns, and volute-form vine bands in relief, in characteristic Massim stye. H: 15 cm, 11 cm and 10 cm (each in total, including stoppers).
All four objects display good, old usage patina. First third of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance: German Private Collection.