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TROBRIAND ISLAND SCULPTURES

OCEANIC ART
Carved statues & spiritual objects from the Trobriand Islands, Melanesia, are usually extremely and delicately hand carved, often with curiously convoluted figures, intricately carved, and particularly well finished, using kwila, rosewood or ebony found both in the Trobriands and Woodlark islands. Many also have inserts of mother of pearl. This art is extremely decorative.

The Polish anthropologist Malinowski made the Trobriands famous after the WWI. At the start of the war, apparently, he was offered a choice of internment in Australia or banishment to the remote Trobriands. Sensibly he chose the latter and his studies of the islanders, their intricate trading rituals, their yam festivals and cults and their sexual practices, led to his classic series of books -Argonauts of the Western Pacific, Coral Gardens and Their Magic and The Sexual Life of Savages.

 

The Trobriand Islanders have strong Polynesian characteristics and have a social system that is dominated by the hereditary chieftains who continue to wield a tremendous amount of power and influence. The whole society is hierarchical, with strict distinctions between hereditary classes. It is a matrilineal society whereby inheritance is passed through the female side of a family. The Chief's sons belong to his wife (or wives) clan or clans and he is superseded by one of his eldest sister's sons. On economic grounds, polygamy is still practiced by the chiefs.

The soils of the Trobriands are very fertile and great care is lavished on the gardens, especially the yam gardens that have great practical and cultural importance.

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SOLD Large Coral Fish with Mother of Pearl Inserts Hand Carved Wood from Skilled Sculptor Collected in the Remote Trobriand Islands, Kula Ring, Massim Culture, Melanesian Primitive Art (South Pacific, Oceania) 1A14

SOLD Large Coral Fish with Mother of Pearl Inserts Hand Carved Wood from Skilled Sculptor Collected in the Remote Trobriand Islands, Kula Ring, Massim Culture, Melanesian Primitive Art (South Pacific, Oceania) 1A14

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SOLD RARE HANDCARVED EBONY MOTHER PEARL CROCODILE TROBRIANDS OCEANIC ART 1A5

SOLD RARE HANDCARVED EBONY MOTHER PEARL CROCODILE TROBRIANDS OCEANIC ART 1A5

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SOLD Museum quality Cannibal Warrior Head Hunter Rosewood statuette effigy mother pearl oceanic art

SOLD Museum quality Cannibal Warrior Head Hunter Rosewood statuette effigy mother pearl oceanic art

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Rare Hand Carved Wood & Mother of Pearl Chief Power staff, magic amulet: Dragon sticking his tongue to intimidate & scare evil spirits, Trobriand Islands, Massim Culture, Kula Ring, South Pacific (1A1)

Rare Hand Carved Wood & Mother of Pearl Chief Power staff, magic amulet: Dragon sticking his tongue to intimidate & scare evil spirits, Trobriand Islands, Massim Culture, Kula Ring, South Pacific (1A1)
Melanesia South Pacific Art Trobriand Mother Pearl Salty Crocodile Carving 1A22.

Melanesia South Pacific Art Trobriand Mother Pearl Salty Crocodile Carving 1A22.

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Rare Oceanic Hand Carved Ebony Crocodile Alligator Carving Mother Pearl 1A24,25

Rare Oceanic Hand Carved Ebony Crocodile Alligator Carving Mother Pearl 1A24,25
Rare Melanesian Art Ebony Mother of Pearl Crocodile Alligator Hand Carving 1A48

Rare Melanesian Art Ebony Mother of Pearl Crocodile Alligator Hand Carving 1A48

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Primitive South Pacific Art Ebony Pearl Sculpture Effigy Staff Totem Hand carved

Primitive South Pacific Art Ebony Pearl Sculpture Effigy Staff Totem Hand carved

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South Pacific Unique Art Ebony Mother of Pearl Crocodile Gator Hand carved 1A54

South Pacific Unique Art Ebony Mother of Pearl Crocodile Gator Hand carved 1A54

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South Pacific Rare Ebony Art Mother Pearl Salty Crocodile gator Hand Carved 46

South Pacific Rare Ebony Art Mother Pearl Salty Crocodile gator Hand Carved 46

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South Pacific Melanesia Sculptor Unique Art Marine Turtle Hand carved Wood 1A103

South Pacific Melanesia Sculptor Unique Art Marine Turtle Hand carved Wood 1A103

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South Pacific Art Trobriand Mother Of Pearl Salty Crocodile Ebony Carving 1A51

South Pacific Art Trobriand Mother Of Pearl Salty Crocodile Ebony Carving 1A51

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South Pacific Art hand carved Ebony Crocodile Alligator Effigy Mother Pearl 1A23

South Pacific Art hand carved Ebony Crocodile Alligator Effigy Mother Pearl 1A23

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Rare South Pacific tribal Art Trobriand Mother Of Pearl Hand Carved Wd Fish 1A12

Rare South Pacific tribal Art Trobriand Mother Of Pearl Hand Carved Wd Fish 1A12

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Rare South Pacific Island Primitive Art Mother Pearl Hand carved Wood Fish 1A19

Rare South Pacific Island Primitive Art Mother Pearl Hand carved Wood Fish 1A19

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Rare South Pacific Hand Carving Rosewood Mother Pearl Lobsters Sculpture 1A13

Rare South Pacific Hand Carving Rosewood Mother Pearl Lobsters Sculpture 1A13

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Rare South Pacific Art hand carved Ebony Big Game Fish Tarpon Mother Pearl 1A41.

Rare South Pacific Art hand carved Ebony Big Game Fish Tarpon Mother Pearl 1A41.

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Rare South Pacific Art Ebony Mother of Pearl Crocodile Lime Crusher Utensil 1A58

Rare South Pacific Art Ebony Mother of Pearl Crocodile Lime Crusher Utensil 1A58

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South Pacific Art hand carved Ebony Crocodile Alligator Amulet Mother Pearl 1A47

South Pacific Art hand carved Ebony Crocodile Alligator Amulet Mother Pearl 1A47

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Scarce South Pacific Ethnic Art Trobriand Mother Of Pearl Hand Carved Fish 1A16

Scarce South Pacific Ethnic Art Trobriand Mother Of Pearl Hand Carved Fish 1A16

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Pacific Oceanic Art Trobriand Mother Pearl Crocodile Alligator Hand Carving 1A28

Pacific Oceanic Art Trobriand Mother Pearl Crocodile Alligator Hand Carving 1A28

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Pacific Oceanic Art Trobriand Mother Pearl Crocodile Alligator Hand Carving 1A57

Pacific Oceanic Art Trobriand Mother Pearl Crocodile Alligator Hand Carving 1A57

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Pacific Ebony Art Trobriand Mother Pearl Crocodile Alligator Hand Carving 1A45

Pacific Ebony Art Trobriand Mother Pearl Crocodile Alligator Hand Carving 1A45

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Oceanic Art Detailed Lacy Dragon Ebony Totem Twirled Amulet Chief Art Staff 1A34

Oceanic Art Detailed Lacy Dragon Ebony Totem Twirled Amulet Chief Art Staff 1A34

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Rare Melanesia Ebony Artist Sculpture Woman Effigy Totem Figure Hand carved 1A9.

Rare Melanesia Ebony Artist Sculpture Woman Effigy Totem Figure Hand carved 1A9.

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Rare Hand Carved Wood & Mother of Pearl Chief Power staff, magic amulet meant to intimidate & scare evil spirits, Trobriand

Rare Hand Carved Wood & Mother of Pearl Chief Power staff, magic amulet meant to intimidate & scare evil spirits, Trobriand

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Rare Hand Carved Ebony Wood Chief Power staff, magic amulet meant to intimidate & scare evil spirits, Trobriand Islands, Massim Culture, Kula Ring, South Pacific

Rare Hand Carved Ebony Wood Chief Power staff, magic amulet meant to intimidate & scare evil spirits, Trobriand Islands, Massim Culture, Kula Ring, South Pacific

Save $140