< Previous East Sepik Province Next >

Orator's stool, teket
East Sepik Province
19th/20th century
Wood, fiber, hair, shell, beads, pigment
H. 151 cm
TC 95

Called ceremonial chairs in the literature, these anthropomorphic figures that resemble seats were never used for that purpose. The seat was where plants were placed to emphasize points in discussions or during the recitation of mythological tales by important Iatmul men in the ceremonial house where important village matters are discussed. (Schuster 1985:19-26)

This stool was acquired in 1962 by the Lemaire Gallery, Amsterdam from Franz K. Panzenbock. (The Lemaire Archive, MMA: Box 25, photo number 21960) "Panzenbock was a crocodile hunter on the Korewori river in the Sepik river area, who as a sideliune collected [ethnographic objects] during his trips." (Corbey 2000:45.)

Provenance:
Alan Steele, New York, 1999
Lemaire Gallery, Amsterdam, 1962
Collected by Franz K. Panzenbock in Bobten, Papua New Guinea