oceania | Papua New Guinea
Marupai
Papua New Guinea
Protective charm / amulet
Papuan Gulf
Carved coconut, pigments and fibers
Early 20th century
Length: 4 ½ in. (11.3 cm)
Ex collection John & Marcia Friede
Friede Marupai 11.3 cm / Galerie Flak
Price on request
This Papuan Gulf marupai charm is as refined as they get, with minute iconography and superb patina.
Marupai were primarily hunting amulets or personal spiritual charms capable of several other functions as well (protection, sorcery, divination and much more). Like many of the world’s ancient works of art, Gulf of Papua art is essentially religious in nature. The faces on this marupai represent particular religious mythical heroes.
Marupai were primarily hunting amulets or personal spiritual charms capable of several other functions as well (protection, sorcery, divination and much more). Like many of the world’s ancient works of art, Gulf of Papua art is essentially religious in nature. The faces on this marupai represent particular religious mythical heroes.
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