Calabash Ritual Instrument - Ceremonial Aerophone
Papua / Indonesia (Irian Jaya - Una group)
XXᵉ century
Furnished natural calabash
Length: 60 cm
DESCRIPTION
Important calabash instrument of elongated, tapered form, displaying a remarkable formal presence.
The carefully hollowed-out object features a warm brown patina surface. It is pierced by a lateral perforation, a decisive element attesting to an aerophone (wind instrument) function, with the calabash acting as a resonance box.
This feature clearly distinguishes the piece from a simple penis case, to which it may have been assimilated by formal analogy.
PARTICULARITY - PUBLISHED EXAMPLE
This object is reproduced in the reference book
"TRIBES - The First People" by Jean-Pierre Dutilleux.
It appears there under the designation "penis sheath".
However, direct observation of the piece - notably the presence of a functional lateral perforation - now allows us to propose a revised reading of it as a sound instrument (aerophone).
ETHNOGRAPHICAL SCOPE
Elong gourd forms are well attested in Papua (Irian Jaya, Una group), where they can serve multiple functions.
The present piece illustrates the porosity of ancient ethnographic classifications and testifies to a likely ritual or sonic use.
PROVENANCE
Collection Jean-Pierre Dutilleux
Collected during field missions
EXHIBITION
Presented in the exhibition "Monde Premier" (Belgium, 2018)
STATUS
Very good used condition
.Period: 20th century
Style: Tribal Art
Condition: Excellent condition
Length: 60 cm
Reference (ID): 1761742
Availability: In stock































