PNG Lime Pot Gourds - Group of 4 small collector's pieces.
DESCRIPTION
VintageTrobriand Island lime containers.
Made from hollowed-out gourds and decorated with intricate designs
Decorative motifs painted onto the sides
Fibre plugs are wrapped in weavings and capped with pig tusks
SIZES
6 / 11 x 6 cm
7 /10 x 7 cm
7 / 10 x 6 cm
5 / 10 x 5 cm
PROVENANCE
Acquired from PNG over 30 years ago
CONDITION
Good and sound structurally; patterns intact and clear, some small sections of painted decorations worn.
MATERIALS
Gourds (dried and hollowed), pig tusks, and woven pandanus fronds.
GENERAL
Used as lime containers, for consumption in the practice of chewing betel nut.
Lime pots are often quite small and are hand carried by the users in bags.
Only people from certain areas in Papua New Guinea use lime containers like this
Gourds are air-dried.
Plugs can be removed to fill the gourd with lime