A Superb Middle Sepik River Female Suspension Hook, Papua New Guinea

Pierre Vérité, Paris
Claude Vérité, Paris, by descent from the above
John A. Friede, Rye, acquired from the above

Very good condition overall for an object of this type and age; object carved with stone tools minor age cracks throughout as seen on photographs; insect damage or wood knot on proper right knee; proper right ear broken and reattached; proper left wrist cracked on reverse, invisible from the front; nicks and scratches, wear and tear from traditional use; exceptionally fine dark brown patina with partial incrustation and traces of red pigment, with splashes of white paint, probably lime based on the bottom.
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.

This remarkable suspension hook was clearly carved with stone tools according to the adze marks on its surface. The deep blackened patina attests to generations of use. According to Meyer (1995: 229, text to fig. 242), food "and other valuables were kept in bags and baskets which were suspended from the rafters of the building by means of two- or three-pronged hooks. While utilitarian hooks were only rarely carved, those used in the Men's House were elaborately sculpted as representations of important ancestors and mythological beings." The Vérité hook, of whimsical expression, masterfully unifies grace and power of the ancestral spirit represented.

Pierre Vérité (1900-1993), an artist by training, started to collect African and Oceanic art at the very beginning of the public interest in these fields. Just after World War I, African art was sold by paintings dealers, such as Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler and Paul Guillaume. It was not until the 1930s that a few dealers began to specialize in tribal art, among them major figures such as Charles Ratton and Pierre Loeb.

In the early 1930s, Pierre Vérité lived in the artist colony known as "La Ruche" (the Hive) and opened his first gallery in primitive art. In 1937, he opened the Galérie Carrefour on the Boulevard Raspail, which soon became a hangout for artists and collectors such as Pablo Picasso, Helena Rubenstein, Nancy Cunard and André Breton.

After Pierre's death, the collection was kept intact by his son Claude and only few very important pieces were sold, including this hook from the Friede Collection. The rest of the collection was sold at public auction by Enchères Rive Gauche, Paris (Collection Vérité, June 17-18, 2006).