Five Huon Gulf Ladles-New Guinea Art-Oceanic Art
Sometimes to fully appreciate singular objects you need to show them as a set. This way the variations in design help deepen your understanding and appreciation of the style as a whole. Here are five old Huon Gulf ladles used to prepare and serve food during feasts. While the Tami Islands are the heart of this style area it is quite large ranging from West New Britain in the north, to Umboi Island and Siassi Islands in the Vitiaz Straits and then the mainland surrounding Finschhafen. In this set the left most ladle is probably from Tami Island itself and was collected by the mining engineer Gottfried Schmidt in 1905/6. It is 26 ½” (67.3 cm) in height(SOLD). To its right is one with a full figure perched on the scoop, also probably from Tami Islands or very nearby. It was collected on the Jean Jacques Laurent Expedition to New Guinea in 1969, is ex. Leos Anderle Collection, Carmel and was published in my “Between the Known and Unknown: New Guinea Art from Astrolabe Bay to Morobe” catalog of 2016, no. 129. It is 27 7/8” (70.8 cm) in height, dates to the late 19th century(SOLD). The large one in the middle is probably from West New Britain and was collected in the 1960s by Betty Thomas and first time on the market in 50 years. It stands 44 7/8” (114.2 cm) in height, dates to the late 19th century and sells for $4500. The ladle second from right comes from a small Midwest collection formed in the 1960s, stands 29 1/8” (74 cm) in height, dates to the early 20th century or before and sells for $1400. The right most ladle is ancient, 26” (66.1 cm) in height, late 19th century, ex. Lynda Cunningham, ex. Eileen Cohen Collection(SOLD).