Asmat Tribe Wooden Replacement Head c1970
Asmat Tribe (West Papua, now Irian Jaya), wooden carved replacement head decorated with beads, cassowary bone (to represent human vertebrae) , hand made twine, bark, cassowary feather and trade beads. Made by the Asmat as human head hunting & trophies were forbidden to be shown publicly by law. Arranged on display stand. Head = 15cm, with stand = 32cm
ex Peter Elliot Collection.
Gallery/Dealer
No
Thank you for submitting your item for appraisal. This appears to be - as you described - a wooden carved head sculpture decorated with bird feathers and bones. Having been collected in the 1970s it would be regarded to be a travel souvenir made for tourist and not a real tribal art object. The estimate is based on similar Asmat tribe items offered or sold at auction."Asking prices" in the trade can be higher and vary.
'Police Officer'
There were no tourists in the Asmat region in the very early 1970s. It was under Australian Police Protection due to constant head-hunting. It was collected from a Police Officer who had it from the Headman to ensure that this was an acceptable 'showing' of a trophy in accordance to the colonial laws. Elliott got it from that Police Office. That Police Office was my father. I hope I have made that clear now.