People of the Star Mountains & Their Dead Pig, Papua New Guinea Pastel View Watchlist >
- Winning Bid: $21.00
- 18 Bid(s) View Bid History
- High Bidder: SandraBali
Seller Accepts Credit Cards
Payment and pickup instructions will be available on your invoice (under "My Account") at the conclusion of this auction.
Lot # B567
System ID # 21288755
Start Date
End Date
1 Watching
People of the Star Mountains & Their Dead Pig, Papua New Guinea Pastel
This evocative hard pastel artwork, People of the Star Mountains & Their Dead Pig, captures a striking moment of communal life in Papua New Guinea’s Western Province. The composition features a group of indigenous individuals in traditional attire, gathered around a pig—an animal of profound social and ceremonial significance in their culture. Pigs play a vital role in rites of passage, marriage transactions, and community exchanges, making this piece a compelling visual narrative of ritual or social ceremony.
Executed in a monochromatic palette, the artist skillfully employs hard pastels to create depth, texture, and dynamic contrast. The figures' expressive faces, adorned with traditional necklaces, nose ornaments, and woven garments, exhibit detailed craftsmanship. The pig in the foreground, rendered with lifelike fur texture and positioning, enhances the piece's ceremonial weight. The background, though subtle, suggests a dense, natural environment typical of the Star Mountains region.
- Title: People of the Star Mountains & Their Dead Pig
(Western Province, Papua New Guinea, 1996) - Artist: Signature Indiscernible, dated 1996
Signed Lower Left - Medium: Hard Pastel on Paper
- Framed & Matted with UV Protective Glass
Condition
In fair condition overall, with a visible stain on the right center and a crease in the lower right corner. These imperfections do not significantly detract from the overall composition or visual appeal. Please review the provided images for a closer look at the details.
Dimensions
- Overall (Framed): 31.5 inches × 25 inches
- Visible Image: 23 inches × 16.5 inches
Provenance & Collectibility
This piece offers an intimate and rare artistic representation of the Star Mountains indigenous traditions, making it a highly desirable addition for collectors of ethnographic art, cultural studies, and Papua New Guinea heritage depictions. The nuanced depiction of ritual and social symbolism makes it an outstanding piece of visual anthropology.
