Northwest New Guinea Beaded Apron-New Guinea Art-Oceanic Art
This is a fine and early beaded apron from Teluk Cenderawasih, Northwest New Guinea collected by the Dutch colonial administrator W. E. C. Veen circa 1916. This piece is No. 40 in my catalog “Three Collections of Oceanic Art.” Dr. Wonu Veys, in her accompanying essay, writes this about the beaded aprons collected by Veen:
“Beaded aprons are characteristic of the Teluk Cenderawasih area. Both men and women would wear these beaded aprons at ceremonial dances. Traded from Asia, the beads then carried and still carry high symbolic and exchange value as they are important gifts at weddings. The aprons are decorated with precious red, imported, cotton cloth.”
The apron dates to the late 19th/early 20th century, is 17 ½” (44.4 cm) in width by 23”(58.4 cm) tall. The price is $2800.