Marupai, Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea Early 20th Century
- TitleMarupai
- ArtistUnknown
- LocationPapuan Gulf
- Size12.2cm (L)
- PriceSOLD
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
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