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Chief's lime spatula, Reba-Reba, 19th century
Cassowary femur, string, trade beads and trade cloth, twigs
35.6 x 3.8 x 5.7 cm (14 x 1 1/2 x 2 1/4 in.)
The Marcia and John Friede Collection, a Promised Gift to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco L05.1.329

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Artist Biography: (none) PROVENANCE: "Roland Grunwald Collection, Paris." (Catalog #428, New Guinea Art: Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede, 2005, Volume 2, p. 156.) PUBLICATIONS: 2005 - "The name for this lime object, reba-reba, is from D'Albertis, 1880: vol. 2, 386. These lime spatulas were said to be important cult objects of chiefly power. They were displayed prominently in the clan ceremonial house (personal communication, based on Grunwald collection information). The treatment of hollowing out the condoyles of the femur to form a curved terminal appears to be unique to the Mekeo and Roro. Several related spatulas, collected by Luigi Maria D'Albertis among the Roro at Hall Sound in 1875, are now in the Museum Preistorico Ethnografico L. Pigorini, Rome. The form is similar, but only fiber, seeds, and other natual decorations are used. See Rocchi, 1971, no. 117. Also see Haddon, 1894: 151 and pl. ix, and Seligmann, 1910: 317." (Catalog #428, New Guinea Art: Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede, 2005, Volume 2, p. 156.)

Related Keywords
Reba spatula lime Chief's Francisco San Museums Arts Fine Gift Promised 156 p 2 Volume 2005 Friede John Marcia Jolika Masterpieces Art 428 Catalog Paris Grunwald Roland Mekeo village Inawi people Roro Oceania Province Central Guinea New Papua Melanesia object Ritual twigs cloth beads trade string femur Cassowary 0929200412450128 A363457 L05.1.329 AOA