Belle frise, Nord de la Nouvelle-Irlande

Alain Schoffel, Paris
Alain de Monbrison, Paris

Wear consistent with age and use within the culture. Good condition overall. The top two feathers from the left wing broken and glued.
"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."

Cette frise malangan asymétrique, à l'iconographie classique, représente en son centre un oiseau calao dévorant un serpent. Ce thème, que l'on retrouve sur différentes familles de sculptures, représenterait la domination d'un clan sur ses ennemis. Parmi les frises de type comparable, celle-ci se distingue par la très belle ampleur de ses proportions. 

A fine frieze, northern New Ireland

Bisymmetrical malangan frieze with a hornbill bird eating a snake at its centre. This is a more common configuration, and the image of a bird, usually a hornbill or a rooster, biting a snake appears on different kinds of carvings. It may have originally represented the dominance of one bird clan over its enemies, but we cannot know this for certain. This is a fairly large example of this kind of frieze.

Vicky Barnecutt