19th C. Wuvulu Island Wood Serving Bowl - Apia Nie

About Auction

Live

Fall Antiquities & Ethnographic Art Auction

By Artemis Gallery

Oct 21, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-10-21 10:00:00 2021-10-21 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fall Antiquities & Ethnographic Art Auction https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fall-antiquities-ethnographic-art-auction-7725
Ancient art from Egypt, Greece, Italy and the Near East, as well as Asian, Fossils, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal / Oceanic, Fine art, and much more! All categories, all price ranges... all legally acquired and guaranteed to be as described or your money back. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

View Full Catalog (341)

• Lot Description
  Oceania, Papua New Guinea, Wuvulu Island (also known as Mary Island, Matty, Maty Island, Tiger Island, Tiger-Inseln and Wuwulu), ca. 19th century CE. A striking hand-carved wooden serving dish presenting a classic hourglass form known as an apia nie, traditionally used to catch coconut milk harvested by squeezing the meat of a coconut over the bowl. The vessel is carved out of a single piece of fine deep brown wood that has developed a rich patina resulting from years of exposure to the oil derived from coconut milk and age. Size: 18.2" L x 11.125" W x 3.2" H (46.2 cm x 28.3 cm x 8.1 cm)
  
  According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, "The unique hourglass-shaped bowls, or apia nie, created on the islands of Wuvulu and Aua embody the spare, minimalist aesthetic of Micronesian art. Still made today, apia nie are used specifically to collect coconut milk, extracted by squeezing balls of grated coconut meat over the bowl. The wide shallow ends of the bowls curve gently downward toward the deeper center, in which the freshly squeezed liquid collects. Despite their apparent delicacy, apia nie are everyday vessels in widespread use. Many older examples develop a distinctive glossy patina through years of contact with the oil in the coconut milk. In most cases, the form of the vessel, as here, serves as its only adornment, but the interiors of some examples are painted with linear geometric designs."
  
  See a similar example in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (accession number 1979.206.1428).
  
  Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-private Dr. Gallagher collection, Sydney, Australia, acquired in 2018
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
  PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
  
  Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
  
  #154577

  Condition

  Stabilization to one large fissure from midsection to one edge, with very light adhesive residue along break lines. Minor abrasions to base, peripheries, and basin, with several stable hairline fissures, otherwise intact and excellent. Gorgeous patina throughout. Old inventory label beneath base.
• Shipping Info

  • All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Gallery will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please inquire BEFORE bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.

• Buyer's Premium
  • 26.50 %