MASSIM JANUS FIGURE ATTRIBUTED TO BANIEVA
MILNE BAY PROVINCE, PAPUA NEW GUINEA, LATE 19TH - EARLY 20TH CENTURY
Estimate: £1,500 - £2,500
Auction: 13 March 2025 from 13:00 GMT
Description
carved wood, depicting two figures standing back to back, each smoking a pipe
Dimensions
38cm tall
Provenance
Private collection, London, United Kingdom, acquired from the below
Todd Barlin, Oceanic Arts Australia, Sydney
Footnote
Banieva, also known as Tauseuseuli (Lefthander), was a distinguished carver from Dagodagoisu Village in modern Milne Bay Province. In the field of New Guinea art, where the identities of many carvers remain unknown, both Banieva and his contemporary Mutuaga were celebrated as master carvers whose work has been admired and collected since the late 19th century. Notably, a photograph of Banieva taken in 1926 while carving exists, providing a rare visual record of the artist at work.
Banieva’s carvings are characterised by a distinctive naturalistic style, exemplified by the present janus sculpture depicting two men smoking pipes back to back. This work demonstrates Banieva’s unique approach, where the hands are held to the chest with the wrists at unconventional angles, ending in imaginative fingers of different lengths. The expressive faces of the men, each engaged in smoking a pipe, showcase the highly individualistic and expressive style for which Banieva is renowned. His works have been widely exhibited and are part of collections in major museums and private holdings worldwide.