Marupai, Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea  Early 20th Century

  • Title
    Marupai
  • Artist
    Unknown
  • Location
    Papuan Gulf
  • Size
    12.2cm (L)
  • Price
    SOLD

Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea  Early 20th Century

Elema Cultural group

Coconut shell

In Elema culture, marupai are used for their protective and aggressive functions.  They are fed magical materials, such as aromatic tree bark (kora-iru) and wild ginger (upi), to make them potent and effective.  The sorcerer also consumes these materials to manage and control the marupai.  The marupai are depicted as alert, ready, and even clairvoyant, reflecting their role in protection and aggression.

The figurative styles of the marupai are distinct and different, composed from the artful combination of similar design elements, mainly the circle, star, and triangle.  The faces are conventionalized with a predominance given to the eyes and mouth.

Provenance

Micheal Hamson, Red Eye of the Sun, The Art of the Papuan Gulf ,  2016 Exhibition Item 37 b

Ed and Mina Smith Collection, California

Literature

Red Eye of the Sun, The Art of the Papuan Gulf ,  2016  Exhibition  page106  item 37 b

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Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea  Early 20th Century

Elema Cultural group

Coconut shell

In Elema culture, marupai are used for their protective and aggressive functions.  They are fed magical materials, such as aromatic tree bark (kora-iru) and wild ginger (upi), to make them potent and effective.  The sorcerer also consumes these materials to manage and control the marupai.  The marupai are depicted as alert, ready, and even clairvoyant, reflecting their role in protection and aggression.

The figurative styles of the marupai are distinct and different, composed from the artful combination of similar design elements, mainly the circle, star, and triangle.  The faces are conventionalized with a predominance given to the eyes and mouth.

Provenance

Micheal Hamson, Red Eye of the Sun, The Art of the Papuan Gulf ,  2016 Exhibition Item 37 b

Ed and Mina Smith Collection, California

Literature

Red Eye of the Sun, The Art of the Papuan Gulf ,  2016  Exhibition  page106  item 37 b