Spatule à chaux, Aire Massim , Papouasie Nouvelle-Guinée

Alex Philips, Melbourne
Collection Marcia et John Friede, New York

Good condition overall. Wear consistent with age and use within the culture: signs of prolonged traditional use to the surface of the spatula, with areas of heavy encrustation, some cracks and losses to the edges, as visible in the catalogue illustration. Label with inventory number to the rear.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Les spatules dont le manche représente un personnage en pied sont rares. Harry Beran - seul chercheur à avoir consacré son travail à l'identification des styles individuels et des maîtres de la région Massim (cf. notamment : Beran, 1996) - souligne ici à la fois la qualité de la sculpture et le caractère peu courant de ce style remontant au XIX^e siècle (communication personnelle, octobre 2010).

Selon Harry Beran (in Sotheby's, Paris, 3 décembre 2008 : 32), les variations personnelles observées dans le corpus des spatules Massim s'échelonnent de la très haute stylisation jusqu'à un style semi-naturaliste. Cette spatule se situe parmi les plus naturalistes de ce continuum. Elle se distingue par le contraste saisissant entre les formes épurées du corps féminin sculpté en deux dimensions - aux détails anatomiques soigneusement signifiés - et la rondeur de la tête aux traits stylisés, caractérisée par l'expressionnisme des yeux ronds et de la bouche entrouverte s'étirant sur toute la largeur du visage.  

Sur la spatule, les marques de salive rougie par le bétel attestent son usage prolongé. Au-delà de sa simple utilité pratique - faire parvenir la chaux depuis le mortier jusqu'à la bouche - certaines spatules, en particulier celles - rares - sculptées comme ici d'une figure humaine, pouvaient posséder une fonction spirituelle. Ainsi, "selon Narubutau - dernier chef illustre du village de Yalumgwa, à Kiriwina - ceux qui connaissaient la magie appropriée pouvaient obtenir qu'un esprit vivant dans les arbres, tokwai, investisse la figure anthropomorphe  de sa spatule, afin qu'il le protège (Beran, idem et 1988 : 19).

Lime spatula, Massim, Papua New Guinea

Spatulas with handles in the shape of a standing figure are rare. Harry Beran – the only researcher to have devoted his work to the identification of individual styles and to the masters of the Massim region (cf. notably: Beran, 1996) – stresses that, in this example, the quality of the sculpture and its characteristics can be linked to a style which dates back to the nineteenth century (personal communication, October 2010).

According to Beran, (in Sotheby's, Paris, 3 December 2008 : 32),the individual differences observed in the corpus of Massim spatulas range from high stylization to a semi-naturalistic style. This spatula is amongst the most naturalistic of the continuum. It is distinguished by the striking contrast between the pure form of the female body sculpted in two dimensions – the anatomical details carefully rendered- and the roundness of the head with stylized features, characterized by the expressionism of the round eyes and the parted mouth, stretching across the width of the face.

On the surface of the spatula, marks of saliva reddened by the betel attest to its prolonged usage. Beyond its simple practicality – to bring the lime from the mortar to the mouth – some spatulas, and in particular rare ones, sculpted as here with a human figure, might have also possessed a spiritual function. Thus, according to Narabutau – last chief of the Yalumgwa village in Kiriwina – those who knew the appropriate magic could get a living spirit of the trees, tokwai, to invest the anthropomorphic figure of their spatula with protective qualities (Beran, idem and 1988: 19).