Mixed lot (2 items): New Guinea, Highlands, tribe: Dani, Baliem Valley; a piece of ‘stone money’ (as bride price) and a large ‘bilum’ carrying net.
Mixed lot (2 items): New Guinea, Highlands, tribe: Dani, Baliem Valley; a piece of ‘stone money’ (as bride price) and a large ‘bilum’ carrying net.
1: A stone blade, called ‘je’. Carefully cut from grey green stone. In the middle, the blade is wrapped in vegetable cords, yellow orchid stems and bark bast, and decorated with white pieces of fur (opossum?), an animal tail (pig?) and colourful bird feathers. In the highlands of New Guinea, these decorated ‘je’ blades are used as valuable objects and ‘primitive money’, for the payment of ‘bride prices’ and other transactions between families and clans.
2: A carrying net, called ‘bilum’. Perfectly knotted with twisted cords in loop technique. With an especially beautiful, fine pattern of light and dark brown, yellow (orchid stems) and red cords. With nets such as the present one, the women of the highland Papua in New Guinea carry all heavy weights on their backs in everyday life (bamboo canes full of water, field fruits, small piglets, their own babies etc.). When used for carrying, the narrowest part of the ‘bilum’ is placed across the forehead. L: c. 110 cm, W: c. 80 cm.
Both objects are in very good condition and show old traces of usage. (ME)
Provenance: Purchased by the consignor directly from the Dani in the Baliem Valley in 1974.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
05.11.2014 - 13:00
- Estimate:
-
EUR 1,000.- to EUR 1,200.-
Mixed lot (2 items): New Guinea, Highlands, tribe: Dani, Baliem Valley; a piece of ‘stone money’ (as bride price) and a large ‘bilum’ carrying net.
1: A stone blade, called ‘je’. Carefully cut from grey green stone. In the middle, the blade is wrapped in vegetable cords, yellow orchid stems and bark bast, and decorated with white pieces of fur (opossum?), an animal tail (pig?) and colourful bird feathers. In the highlands of New Guinea, these decorated ‘je’ blades are used as valuable objects and ‘primitive money’, for the payment of ‘bride prices’ and other transactions between families and clans.
2: A carrying net, called ‘bilum’. Perfectly knotted with twisted cords in loop technique. With an especially beautiful, fine pattern of light and dark brown, yellow (orchid stems) and red cords. With nets such as the present one, the women of the highland Papua in New Guinea carry all heavy weights on their backs in everyday life (bamboo canes full of water, field fruits, small piglets, their own babies etc.). When used for carrying, the narrowest part of the ‘bilum’ is placed across the forehead. L: c. 110 cm, W: c. 80 cm.
Both objects are in very good condition and show old traces of usage. (ME)
Provenance: Purchased by the consignor directly from the Dani in the Baliem Valley in 1974.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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| Auction: | Tribal Art |
| Auction type: | Saleroom auction |
| Date: | 05.11.2014 - 13:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 31.10. - 05.11.2014 |