1950 set of tiny feather decorations in a pouch of natural fiber - star mountains - highlands - west Papua (No reserve price)

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For Sale: Ceremonial Feather Storage Pouch – Star Mountains Highlands, West Papua

This rare woven storage pouch originates from the high mountain region of the Star Mountains (Sterrengebergte) in West Papua. The pouch contains a large number of small wooden sticks, each carefully adorned with red and green feathers. These feathered sticks were used during important ceremonial festivals, when men decorated their bodies with them as part of elaborate ritual attire.

During these major celebrations, the feather sticks were inserted into armbands, headdresses, or other body ornaments, transforming the wearer into a vivid and symbolic figure. The colors and materials carried social and spiritual meaning, marking status, identity, and participation in communal rites.

The woven pouch served a practical and symbolic purpose: it was used to store and protect the feather ornaments when not in use, keeping them together as a ceremonial set. Such complete groupings—pouch and feather sticks together—are rarely encountered today.

This piece comes from a colonial-era Dutch administrative collection, assembled by a Dutch colonial official during the mid-20th century, adding solid provenance and historical depth.

A highly evocative object for collectors of Papuan highland material culture, museums, or serious enthusiasts of Oceanic art.

Origin: Star Mountains (Sterrengebergte), West Papua
Date: Mid-20th century
Materials: Woven natural fibers, wood, red and green feathers
Provenance: Colonial Dutch administrative collection

An authentic ceremonial ensemble that vividly reflects the ritual life and artistic traditions of the Papuan highlands.

We pack securely sending worldwide

Sold by Koos Knol, ethnographer and anthropologist, dealer of Papua Tribal Art for more than 30 years, expert and author of the book “Papua Blues”, written in Dutch. (Maybe in English next year.)  Published end of October 2024
A book about inside stories, a book that deals with the many encounters with special people in West Papua, the impressive experiences that the author has, about special encounters with men and women who tell him about secret things, about ethnographic objects and initiate him into the rituals and ceremonies.
A must have for collectors, ethnographers, ethnologists, anthropologists and museums
 
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