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Hôtel des Ventes de Troyes

25 - - Goblet - Sepik river - Papua New Guinea Materials: Carved …
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Estimate €100 - €200
Sale commission
Description
- Goblet - Sepik river - Papua New Guinea Materials: Carved wood with old patina. Provenance: Former Guy Seghers collection (Belgium). Collected in Papua New Guinea between 1970 and 1980 during scientific missions linked to the Leopold III Biological Station on Laing Island. Archives and period photographs preserved. The work is recorded in a field notebook under reference A.76 (7), dated 1977, with the words: "Plat, Watam (Watam Lagoon)". Estimate: €100 - €200 - Dimensions: H. 53 cm. Large naviform ceremonial bowl, deeply hollowed and carved from a single piece of wood. The ends are extended by two small stylised figures in relief, while the edges are slightly raised to emphasise the elegance of the overall silhouette. The inner surface has been darkened by use, indicating that it was used for ritual purposes for a long time. People living in the Sepik region and the coastal lagoons of northern New Guinea used such vessels for community ceremonies, feasts and ritual exchanges. They were used to present food, sago-based preparations and offerings to ancestors and protective spirits. The sobriety of this piece contrasts with the more elaborately carved pieces from the Inner Sepik. Its aesthetics are based above all on the purity of the volumes, the quality of the patina and the balance of its elongated shape, evoking the close relationship between the people and the aquatic world.
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About the sale ARTS OF AFRICA & OCEANIA: Three exceptional family collections
Auction location
Auction time 06/22/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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