A PAPUAN GOLF BULL ROARER

Provenance: Thomas Schultze Westrum, Berlin
Joop Schafthuizen, Belgium
Private collection Loed van Bussel, Amsterdam,

This thin blade howls or roars when whirled through the air on a string. In Papua New Guinea bull roarers hold a traditional place of honour in men’s ceremonial clubhouses. The Humobauri people of the Purari River Delta used them during funerals of important men and called them ”Imunu viki” (weeping spirits)

Wapo Creek, Humobauri Village. Papua New Guinea
Wood, 82 x 14,5 cm. Good condition, traces of use. Beginning of 20th century

Price:  Sold