A RARE Massim, TROBRIAND ISLANDS, MALE FIGURE, Papua New Guinea

the antropomorphic figure standing and holding a convex oval shield with abstract snakes and birds; fine aged patina with red, dark brown and white pigment.

Collected by Captain Farrell, 1884
Mason Brothers
Senta Taft, Sydney
Carlo Monzino, Lugano
Sotheby's, New York, November 11, 2004, lot 10

very good condition overall; several age cracks through base, back and right side of head, small holes throughout as seen on photogrpahs (insect damage and root channels); fine aged patina with red, dark brown and white pigment.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Art from the Trobriand Islands refers to the art from the far southwest of Papua New Guinea, the Milne Bay Province. Little information exists as to the exact interpretation of many works made in the Trobriand Islands, so it is difficult to say how this figure was used. However, he holds one of the most noted and refined elements of Trobriand objects, the war shield. According to field data collected by Samuel B. Fellows in the 1890's, "the motifs on the shields represent fish, snakes, birds, stars, rainbows, and spear holes. He reports no unified symbolic meaning of the motifs. E.R. Leach has speculated that the shield's painting represents a flying witch, much feared by the Trobriand Islanders. R.M. Berndt has rejected this hypothesis [...and] suggests the shield's motifs symbolize human copulation, thus serving as a visual form of abuse of the enemy, since copulation is a fitting subject for verbal abuse in the Trobriands and there is a taboo on copulation during warfare" (Beran in Barbier 1999: 219).

Harry Beran notes on the present lot (personal communication 2004): "As a 19^th century standing figure holding a Trobriand Islands shield, this figure is unique to my knowledge. However, Peter Lauer (1976) has published a photograph circa 1970 of two free-standing posts in Sinaketa Village, Kiriwina Island, Trobriand Islands. Each of these posts had a human figure carved in relief near the top. By the time I got there a few years later they had rotted away. Could the Monzino figure have been cut form the top of a similar post in the 19^th century?"

A standing figure in a style similar to that of the Monzino figure, but without a shield, appeared at auction in Paris a few years ago and later in a catalog published by Conru (1999: 39, figure 21).

"There is only one function of these free-standing Massim figures that is documented. They were used as protective figures in houses. One is published in Beran (1996: 71, pl. 77). There are a number of old figures in the same style (see Firth 1936: 85 for one). I know a number of other old free-standing Massim figures in a wide variety of styles; for example that offered by Sotheby's New York (November 22, 1998, lot 56). It is puzzling that the small number of old Massim figures that exist are carved in such a variety of styles. Perhaps there is no cohesive style because they were made sporadically by a number of different artists.

"The figures mentioned above differ from perhaps better-known squatting Massim figures that turn up much more frequently and were made for sale, even in the 19^th century.

"The question we are left with is why there are only two figures known in the style of the Monzino and Conru figures, given that they were carved by very good artists or perhaps even one artist. The Monzino figure is almost certainly from the Trobriand Islands, given the presence of the shield."