FIGURINES AND ORATOR'S STOOLS
Figurines
and statues in Papua New Guinean art fall into two broad groups: ancestral and
spirit. Sometimes the distinction between these two types is functional rather
than visual.
Some types
of figurines and statues are very consistent in appearance. This is so when a
particular village or district has a "trademark" style. In other
areas there is a distinct genre but wide variation in appearance of individual
works.
Most
figurines and statues are small to medium in size, ie 30 inches (75cm) high or
less. Orator's stools, on the other hand, may range up to 3 metres in height.
An orator's stool is a statue of an ancestral or spirit figure sitting on a
stool. The figure represents an ethereal convenor or "chairman" of meetings
in Sepik men's houses. During meetings, speakers tap or slap the orator statue
to give authority to their words.
On this
page we present some examples of TYPES of figurines, statues and orator's
stools which we are able to procure. These are not pictures of actual items
available, although often we can supply something similar. Most pieces are
recently crafted and some items have been used in the village before being
sold.
Our various
suppliers, between them, have over a thousand pieces available at any one time.
Forgive us, then, if we cannot supply photos of all the actual items currently
available. With figurines what we generally do is supply pieces that are as
similar as possible to items on this page as nominated by the customer.
Back to PNG Handcraft Exports home page
Email:
info@pnghandcrafts.8k.com
SMALLER FIGURINES approx
$15-$20
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MEDIUM FIGURINES approx
$30-$50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Madang figurine |
|
Mendi doll $60 |
LARGER FIGURINES approx
$50-$80
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ORATOR'S STOOLS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SITE NAVIGATION