1950’s field collected shell spoons Trobriand Islands - Trobriand islands - Papua New Guinea (No Reserve Price)

Two Beautiful Old Shell Spoons – Ceremonial Food Utensils
Mid-20th Century | From a Dutch Private Collection

A refined pair of old ceremonial shell spoons, traditionally used during special food rituals and festive gatherings. Each spoon is carved from a naturally shaped marine shell, with the edges carefully worked and polished to a soft, luminous sheen.

The craftsmanship is elegant and understated:
– smooth, flowing contours
– natural iridescence from decades of gentle aging
– and a harmonious, organic form typical of ritual tableware from the coastal communities of New Guinea.

These spoons were reserved for important ceremonial meals, where the sharing of food symbolised kinship, hospitality, and respect. Pieces of this quality—still paired, intact, and with genuine field age—rarely appear on the market today.

Provenance:
Well preserved for over half a century in a Dutch private collection, acquired in the mid-20th century.

Condition:
Exceptional. Both spoons are in mint condition, with only light age-appropriate patina. No cracks, chips, or repairs.

A graceful, authentic pair of ceremonial shell spoons—highly collectible, aesthetically appealing, and rich in cultural resonance.

Packed with care
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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