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THBLate 19th C. Vanuatu Wooden Pudding Knife
Lot 30b
About Seller
Artemis Fine Arts
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
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Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$800 - $1,500
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About Auction
Live
By Artemis Fine Arts
Aug 22, 2025
Set Reminder
2025-08-22 10:00:00
2025-08-22 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Indigenous Art - Ralph T. Coe Center, Santa Fe, NM
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/indigenous-art---ralph-t-coe-center-santa-fe-nm-20324
Featuring works of art from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a non-profit focused on promoting Indigenous Arts globally. All proceeds from the sale of these items will support future grants to Rehoming Program participants. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisfinearts.com
Featuring works of art from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a non-profit focused on promoting Indigenous Arts globally. All proceeds from the sale of these items will support future grants to Rehoming Program participants. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisfinearts.com
View Full Catalog (452)
- Lot Description
Oceania, Melanesia, Vanuatu, possibly Torres Islands, ca. late 19th century CE. Shaped with graceful precision from a single piece of caramel-hued hardwood, this late 19th century pudding knife from Vanuatu carries both practical and ceremonial significance. Its long, tapering blade is smooth from use, designed to cut portions of lap-lap - the baked pudding of yam, taro, or banana central to the traditional Vanuatu diet. Rising from the blade, the handle features an intricate openwork section with symbolic meaning: the carved voids represent sacred fire rings, gatherings reserved for men of the owner's social grade. Above the openwork, the handle splits into two slender spines with finely notched inner edges, culminating in a rounded terminal with subtle texturing. Each pudding knife was distinct, its form reflecting the social rank of its owner. Size: 27.1" L x 2.3" W (68.8 cm x 5.8 cm)
Beyond its role in dividing and serving food, the knife was used much like a spoon, lifting individual portions to the mouth. In this way, it functioned as both a personal dining implement and a visible emblem of identity, status, and membership in exclusive male circles.
Provenance: Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, purchased in November 2000; ex-Peter Boyd, Seattle, Washington, USA; ex-Europe (Kallas-Lewis)
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
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#195965Old repair to openwork decoration with break lines just barely visible. Some minor wear to wood with a few nicks and abrasions, commensurate with age. Otherwise, very nice presentation with light patina in areas.Condition
- Shipping Info
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