Complete Antique Tribal Papua New Guinea Middle Sepik Oceanic Lime Container

Description

Antique Tribal Sculpture Papua New Guinea Middle Sepik Oceanic Lime Container.
Description -
VERY unique and Rare
.  It is
COMPLETE
.  Has the spatula, the standing bird, AND the bamboo staff.  From Papua, New Guinea, Antique late 19th – early 20th century, Oceanic meddle sepik, Papua-New Guinea, Latmul people lime container.
DETAILS: skillfully carved wooden finial in the form of the standing bird, with the simulated feathers in local threads, mounted on the hollowed out bamboo staff with cane bands.
CONDITION: no repairs or restoration.
DIMENSIONS: Overall length including the bamboo pole: 43"H x 7"W
The Iatmul and other Middle Sepik peoples use betel nut, the fruit of the areca palm, which is chewed with lime made from burnt shells or coral and other substances to produce a mild stimulant effect. Among the Iatmul, the ornate containers and spatulas used respectively to hold and serve the lime had ceremonial as well as practical functions. Ceremonial lime containers were presented to newly initiated boys by their maternal uncles to mark their newly achieved status. The tops of these containers have a hole for the insertion of the lime spatula, and the lower ends are frequently adorned with carvings depicting totemic animals or other supernatural beings. This example is inverted to show the carving to better advantage. The lower ends of Iatmul lime spatulas were carved with a series of ridges. To express pride, assertiveness, or anger, Iatmul men rapidly thrust the spatula in and out of the lime container so that the ridges, rubbing against the edges of the hole in the top, produced a harsh grating noise.
~ Date: late 19th–early 20th century
Geography: Papua New Guinea, Middle Sepik River
Culture: Iatmul or Chambri
Medium: Bamboo, wood, paint, fiber