Showcased by 

  • Galerie Charles-Wesley Hourdé

Malagan figure

New Ireland
Late 19th century
Height: 126cm – Length: 20.5cm – Depth: 19cm
Wood, pigments

Rare Malagan Tangala effigy decorated with a combed headdress. We find here the classical iconography of New Ireland art: the figure is caught in a tangle of flying fish and birds. The pigments covering the surface are original. Johann F. Umlauff founded the most important company in Hamburg specializing in the importation of ethnographic material from Oceania and Africa. This Malagan was sold by him, most likely in the certainly in the 1920-1930’s.

Provenance

Johann F. Gustav Umlauf, Hambourg (1833-1889)
Dr Ziegler
Maurice Bonnefoy, New York
Ader Picard Tajan, Paris, 12 mai 1990, lot 94
Barbara and Joe Abensur Collection

Publication(s)

Bacquart J.-B., The Barbara and Joe Abensur Collection of Oceanic art, pp. 14-15

Malagan figure