Betel Spatula - Lot 80

Betel Spatula Massim area, Papua New Guinea Carved wood and pigments Early 20th century Height: 36.8 cm This mortar pestle consists of a straight handle, flaring at the end, topped by an anthropomorphic figure carved in the round, with hands tucked under the chin. The effigy, whose solemn attitude is in keeping with the stylistic canons of the corpus, reinforces the vertical hieraticism of the composition. The schematic treatment of the body skilfully plays with fullness and emptiness, incorporating openwork spaces and finely engraved motifs enhanced with white pigments, in contrast to the rich brown tones of the ebony wood. Mortar and pestle are the tools used to chew betel nut in the Massim region of southeastern Papua New Guinea. They are used to crush the ingredients used in the preparation of chique, namely betel nut, mustard plants and quicklime, which when mixed together produce a bright red hue with very positive symbolism - a sign of beauty and wisdom. Chewing is a daily activity that begins at an early age and continues into old age. It also plays a part in esoteric practices, with the magical mixture prepared in similar mortars and administered to enhance an individual's talents and qualities. ---- This mortar pestle consists of a straight handle that flares out at its end, topped by an anthropomorphic figure carved in the round, with hands brought up beneath the chin. The effigy, whose solemn posture adheres to the stylistic conventions of the corpus, emphasizes the vertical hieratic quality of the composition. The body, rendered schematically, skillfully plays with positive and negative space, incorporating openwork areas as well as finely carved motifs highlighted with white pigments, contrasting with the ebony wood's rich brown tones. Mortar and pestle are essential tools for chewing betel nut in the Massim region, in southeastern Papua New Guinea. They are used to grind the ingredients for preparing the chew-betel nut, mustard leaves, and lime-which, when combined, produce a bright red paste symbolizing beauty and wisdom. Chewing is a daily practice that begins at a very young age and continues well into old age. It also plays a role in esoteric rituals, where the magical mixture prepared in similar mortars is administered to enhance individuals' talents and qualities.