Boiken Betel Mortar-New Guinea Art-Oceanic Tribal Art
Mount Turu rises over 3500 feet in the Prince Alexander Range to separate New Guinea’s north coast from the Boiken and Abelam cultures to the south. This ancient betel mortar with four long-nose spirit figures comes from the Boiken people but the figurative style is definitively from the beach areas below. The figures have large heads with conical tops, inset oval eyes and long noses that connect to the groin and continue to in front of their feet. The bowl used for crushing the betel nut nestles perfectly on the backsides of each figure’s head. There are remains of black pigments, an encrusted patina and a look with fiber attached. The piece dates to the early 20th century, stands 5 ½” (14.2 cm) in height and is published in my “Art of the Boiken” catalog as no. 143, page 219. It comes from the Michael Kremerskothen Collection in Dortmund Germany. SOLD