Lower Sepik River Headrest

Papua New Guinea, Lower Sepik region, 19th c.

Carved wood with bamboo

19" l x 3.5 w" x 4.5" h (48.26 x 8.89 x 11.43 cm)

Ex–collection Berend Hoekstra, Brussels, Belgium; ex–early 20th c. German collection

Price: POR

 
 

An excellent and early headrest, featuring beautiful surface patina and fine stone-cut carving. The carving underneath the pillow is quite unusual. Undoubtedly 19th-century in origin..

REFERENCES

Dewey, William Joseph. Sleeping Beauties: The Jerome L. Joss Collection of African

Headrests at UCLA. Los Angeles: Fowler Museum of Cultural History, 1993, cat. 138.

Kalliovaara, Raili. Matka Oseaniaan = Journey to Oceania. Helsinki: Taideteollisuumuseo, 1987.

Stöhr, Waldemar, and Klaus Clausmeyer. Kunst und Kultur aus der Südsee: Sammlung

Clausmeyer Melanesien. Cologne: Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum für Völkerkunde,

1987, cats. 86–6.