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Headrest, C-14 dating: 1670–1890 (95.4 % probability)
Wood, bamboo, fiber, Nassa and cowrie shell, dog teeth, rattan repair to reattach the male figure
20 x 48 x 14 cm (7 7/8 x 18 7/8 x 5 1/2 in.)
The Marcia and John Friede Collection, a Promised Gift to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco L05.1.46

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Artist Biography: (none) PROVENANCE: "Probably collected by German traders in the 1880s or on the von Schleinitz Expedition in 1886, after which it entered the Königlichen Museum für Völkerkunde, Berlin. Arthur Speyer Collection, Eltville, Germany; Charles Ratton Collection, Paris." (Catalog #85, New Guinea Art: Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede, 2005, Volume 2, p. 96.) PUBLICATIONS: 2005 - "This is a headrest in "skull rack" form. Two human heads (victims of a headhunt?) appear to be carved in the middle section, serving as a support for the actual bar upon which the sleeping person would rest his head. Felix von Luschan (above reference) also illustrates two related headrests. I have seen two other examples of headrests in the form of skull racks. The better of the two was formerly in the Art Institute of Chicago and, previously, in the Georges de Miré Collection, Paris. See Wardwell, 1971, fig. 81, and Schmitz, 1971, pl. 53. The other was formerly in the Náprstek Museum, Prague. See Sotheby's, New York, Nov. 18, 2000, lot 17. (Catalog #85, New Guinea Art: Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede, 2005, Volume 2, p. 96.) 1897 - Von Luschan, 1897, pl. xlvi, no. 3.

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Headrest Francisco San Museums Arts Fine Gift Promised 96 p 2 Volume 2005 Friede John Marcia Jolika Masterpieces Art 85 Catalog Paris Ratton Charles Germany Eltville Speyer Arthur Berlin V*lkerkunde fŸr Museum K*niglichen entered which 1886 Expedition Schleinitz von 1880s traders German by collected Oceania Province Sepik East Guinea New Papua Melanesia Furniture figure male reattach repair rattan teeth dog shell cowrie Nassa fiber bamboo Wood Report Condition See structure complex create ways together joinde sections various contructed Craved 0709200406050230 A360961 L05.1.46 AOA