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Lime spatula, 19th century
Ebony
10.5 x 1.4 x 1 in.
The Marcia and John Friede Collection, a Promised Gift to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco L06.140

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Artist Biography: (none) PROVENANCE: Jolika Collection of New Guinea Art PUBLICATIONS: 2005 - "The spatula is carved in the form of a splayed male figure. According to Harry Berna, its simple, unadorned style is typical of spatulas that date from the earlier part of the 19th century. The figure may be compared with a squatting figure carved at the tope end of a spatula "to work the sago" in the Museo Preistorico Ethnografico L. Pigorini, Rome (Brizzi, 1976: 242, fig. 58). According to Trobriand Chief Narubutua, human figure spatulas were used for magical protection during kula voyages. To that purpose, the magician called on a spirit (tokwai) to enter the figure and protect its owner during his sleep (ibid., 19). The Trobriand Islands are known as the major center for making anthropomorphic spatulas, but they were also made in the Mashall Bennett Islands, on Suau Island (off the coast of southeastern New Guinea), and perhaps some other places (ibid., 27)." (Catalogue #417, New Guinea Art: Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede, 2005, Volume 2, p. 153.) 1988 - Beran, 1988, fig. 10.

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Lime Francisco San Museums Arts Fine Gift Promised Friede John Marcia Art Jolika Massim Northern Oceania Province Bay Milne Guinea New Utensil Ebony spatula top head holding hands his male squatting figure wood piece one Carved 1031200609170001 A381679 L06.140 AOA