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Mortar pestle

Schouten Island, North Coast New Guinea, West Papua
Mortar pestle
 (early 20th century)

Medium
wood

Measurements
43.8 × 7.5 × 8.2 cm

Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 1979
© the artists

Reproduction requests

Gallery location
Not on display

Artwork Details

Accession Number
O135-1979

Department
Pacific Art

This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Vizard Foundation

Physical description
The style seems influenced by the figure carving of the lower Sepik. The face is schematized and more sparsely carved than in Sepik figures. The body has shrunk to a trunk-like organic form and the exaggerated limb gives the figure a powerful aura. A carved hornbill bird sits in profile.

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