Vintage Kamana Or Sago Bowl Incised Pottery Sawos People Papua New Guinea
Is pleased to offer a stunning Kamana or Sago Bowl, from the Sawos people, East Sepik Province, Papua, New Guinea. Sago starch is an important dietary component of the people living in the villages of Koiwat and Kamanggaui along the Sepik River that runs through Papua New Guinea. In order to prepare, cook and serve sago, traditional pottery dishes are crafted in a collaborative effort by men and women. The most prominent of these dishes is the kamana , or the sago eating dish, a conical vessel with an intricately decorated exterior.
Women first create the bowl with soft clay, coiling up thin strands in the shape of the dish and smoothing the sides. Once dried, the men polish the inside of the bowl and use a chip-carving technique to decorate the outside with shallow reliefs. The women then low-fire the pottery; and men complete the process by painting the bowls with natural pigments of red, yellow and white. The patterns incised on the exterior are often geometric and curvilinear designs inspired by the natural world. At times they can depict the face or form of a spiritual being as well as iconic designs endemic to the people.
Nevertheless, intricately carved kamana are not necessarily ceremonial bowls, but instead, everyday dishes. When in use, the bowl is held upright by a ring of plaited cane to accommodate its cone-shaped form. When not in use, kamana are placed in an upside down or inverted position to ensure visibility of their beautiful designs. The creation of these bowls is a revered, respected art form passed down through generations and masterfully practiced by the Sawos people. Over time, their exceptional quality has remained constant; and it should be noted, they have not been produced for the tourist market, but instead, for use by the people themselves. Perhaps that is what makes sago bowls true collectibles and all the more precious today. This very beautiful bowl measures 10.5 inches in diameter by 6.5 inches in height (26.6 cm by 16.5 cm). It is in very good condition, and shows wear consistent to the late 20th century, including minor chips and surface rubbing. It is a superb collectors piece. Guaranteed authentic, it should be a welcome addition to any significant collection of Oceanic art.Our goal is to bring the same experience and excitement of collecting that we have been delivering in-person to collectors across the Globe at Primitive in Chicago. Every object we sell online has been carefully hand-selected with special attention to detail, quality, and significance. Add GJPaw to Sellers you Follow. The item "VINTAGE KAMANA OR SAGO BOWL INCISED POTTERY SAWOS PEOPLE PAPUA NEW GUINEA" is in sale since Wednesday, March 23, 2016. This item is in the category "Antiques\Ethnographic\Pacific Islands & Oceania".
The seller is "gjpaw" and is located in Chicago, Illinois. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Maker: Sawos
- Material: Terracota
- Original/Reproduction: Original
- Color: Brown