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This ceremonial staff is an extremely rare object from the Massim Culture. These staffs, sometimes referred to as walking sticks, were owned by only the most important men of the Massim Area. This piece incorporates many of the motifs found on the lime spatulas from this area. It is extremely well carved with an attention to detail unsurpassed in any piece I have seen from this area. The Janus-form ancestral figures are finely carved in the classic position from this area, the elbows resting on the knees. The detail on the two faces and the graceful symmetry of this piece make it stand out among an already elegant body of work from the Massim.
Little is known about the exact function of these pieces other than they served as status objects for their owner as well as one of the most desired objects to be traded in the intricate "Kula" trading cycle.
Ceremonial Staff Trobriand Islands Wood, Lime Click photo for closeup of piece | |
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© 1997 Lewis/Wara Gallery. |
