New Ireland Club-James Hooper Collection-Seymour Lazar-New Guinea Art-Oceanic Art
The cylindrical clubs with flared head and waisted grips from New Ireland are very rare. Most have incised decoration, sometimes figurative. This present club has a complex design featuring charming, rotund, smiling female figures with splayed four-fingered hands. The club comes from the James Hooper Collection with his inventory number H.1064 painted in white on the grip. The piece sold at Christie’s London, 3 July 1990, lot 239 and is ex. Seymour Lazar Collection. It dates to the late 19th century, is 39 7/8” (101.3 cm) in height and sells for $4500.