RARE AND IMPRESSIVE LARGE GRADE FIGURE.
Oceania. Vanuatu; Malampa Province; Ambrym Island. Probably the first third of the 20th c. Group of Ni-Vanuatu.

Tree fern (Cycadophyta) with a smoothed layer of earth; painted with white pigment. The anthropomorphic male figure is equipped with a helmet-like enlarged head. Both arms are placed at the sides with the hands next to the genitals.
The figure was cut from the brittle; intertwined root hairs; which build the outer layer around a firmer trunk. The carefully applied and painted earth layer is amazingly well preserved.

These figures; called Maghe ne Naun or Maghe ne Hivir were used for the complex rites; which gradually introduced persons into political and religious power. This is probably the figure for a man. For the rites the figure was dug partly into the soil of the dancing ground and symbolized the spirit of the stage of the grade. The slowly rotting of the material was identified with the slowing influence of the spirit.
The very good preservation of the extremely sensitive material makes clear that this figure was not exposed to the weather for a long period of time. Height approx. 260cm. Condition A/B. Supplement: Reference book: Margaret Donovan: Oceanic Images. Coll. MET. New York 1978.

Provenance:
-Dutch collector and insurance agent of Lloyd's London in Port Villa; Vanuatu. Directly acquired in Abrym Island; Malampa province; circa 1940s.
-Collection Detlef Rosen; D黶seldorf; acquired 1979.

Info Detlef Rosen CollectionArt trade; Van Ham.