206

A large Orators stool, Sepik River, Papua New Guinea

the elongated head with feather 'hairs', cowrie shells across the forehead leading to three horns above the bridge of the nose with flaring nostrils, the intricately pigment decorated face with shell inset eyes, stylised with bared teeth and extended tongue set into an asymmetrical jaw framed with a cowrie shell beard and grass fringing
the upper back and shoulders incised with cowrie shell eyed alligator totems, the arms and torso carved and painted with markings resembling scarification, the figure wearing a woven koteka, seated up on a stool supported by backwards facing legs
190cm high

NOTE
This artifact is known as an Orator's stool and was used in the north of the Sepik and Chambri Lakes, Papua New Guinea.
Each Haus Tambaran (cult house) has such a stool which is used only on ceremonial speech making occasions when the Orator strikes the seat part with a bundle of leaves to emphasise his main points. The Orator's stool represents the collective wisdom of the clan's departed ancestors who return at the time of such ceremonies to guide and instruct the discussions.

  • Condition: * All statements by Gibson’s in the catalogue entry for the property or in the condition report, or made orally or in writing elsewhere, are statements of opinion and are not to be relied upon as statements of fact. Such statements do not constitute a representation, warranty or assumption of liability by Gibson’s of any kind. References in the catalogue entry to the condition report to damage or restoration are for guidance only and should be evaluated by personal inspection by the bidder or a knowledgeable representative. The absence of such a reference does not imply that an item is free from defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of any others. Estimates of the selling price should not be relied on as a statement that this is the price at which the item will sell or its value for any other purpose. Neither Gibson’s nor The Seller is responsible for any errors or omissions in the catalogue or any supplemental material.

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July 9, 2023 11:00 AM AEST
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