Antique Tribal Sculpture Papua New Guinea Middle Sepik Oceanic Lime Container

Antique late 19th – early 20th century, Oceanic Meddle Sepik, Papua-New Guinea, Iatmul people lime container. DETAILS: Skillfully carved wooden finial in the form of the standing bird, painted in white, black and red, mounted on the hollowed out bamboo staff with cane bands.
CONDITION: no repairs or restoration, minor loss of paint, small crack and minor chips in finial, as visible in photo, beautiful age patina.
 
DIMENSIONS: Overall length including the bamboo pole: 96cm (37 1/2 in). Length of the wooden sculpture: 40,7cm (16in).
 
REFERENCES: “OCEANIC ART” by A. Mayer (p. 231, object # 246).
A related Lime Containers are in the Burke Museum of Natural History and in Culture and Honolulu Academy of Arts.
Click here for the direct link http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stopper_for_lime_container,_Papua_New_Guinea,_Middle_Sepik_River_region,_Iatmul_people,_Honolulu_Academy_of_Arts.JPG