New Guinea Highlands Old Oil Gourd. Listed as RARE.Trade Related

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New Guinea Highlands Old Oil Gourd. Listed as RARE.Trade Related:
$30.00

Onoffer is anoldgourd from the New Guinea Highlands and was used as a container for the valued tree oil which was one of the most valued money/trade items of the Highlands peoples. A similar item is shown as item 145 (see photo) in \"The Artifacts and Crafts of Papua New Guinea - A Guide for Buyers\" 1988. This book, which is accepted as a buyer\'s guide, states the item to be \"Rare\" which puts it in the same area of rarity as the Baruya Salt Package.I purchased the gourd, plus another,from the G.K.Grey, Sydney Tribal Art sale in June 1986.

This gourd itself is non-monetary but it held Tigasso treeoil which was a very important trade item from the Foi People of the SouthernHighlands to the north and New Guinea Highlands. It is a rare artefact from therecipients of the oil who lived in the Highlands. Full information on the oil trade is shown below.

A similar oneis illustrated (see Photo)as Fig 145 of \"The Artifacts and Crafts of Papua New Guinea - A Guide for Buyers\" 1988. This book, which is accepted as a buyer\'s guide records the itemas\"Rare\" which places it in the same degree of rarity as a Baruya Salt Pack.

The gourd measures about 180mm high x about 115mm diameter and is criss-crossed with bands of a type of split cane. It measures about 360mm from base to top of handle. It is obviouslyold and hastraces of old oil,etc. It would make a nice display and isin nice condition.

Itmay be returned for refund within 7 days of purchase if not 100% satisfactory. See my \"other items\" for some Primitive Moneyand books on the same. Will combine postage.

Postage to Americais $17.45

Postage in NSW $8.25

Please contact me for postage rates to other areas. Do not use \'s postal calculator.

More Information:

Amongthe Highlands peoples, including the Melpa and others to their south, tradingtakes place for this oil from the Campnosperma brevipetiolata tree, calledKaraʼo by the Foi people, a mountain Papuan group among whom it originates. AsJames Weiner describes it, trade in Kara’o oil, black palm bows and cassowariesexisted between the Foi and the Highlanders (Wola- and Kewa-speakers), who gavepigs and pearl shells in return (Weiner 1988:63-77). The oil was tapped fromthe Karao tree and was collected in bamboo tubes and carried up into thehighlands and traded to the Wola and Kewa speaking people from where it wastraded to the Mendi, the Melpa and northwards to Kandep and other areas. The pigs, pearl shells and axe blades thatwere obtained for the oil entered into the ceremonial exchanges of the Foiamong themselves. Kara\'o oil is used by the Foi and the Highlanders fordecorative purposes, and frequently dyes are used to color the oil black orred. The Foi mix charcoal with the oil to make the traditional black battlecovering and mix in dye from the seed pods of the Bixa orellana tree to producea reddish-colored oil used for dancing. The collection and trading of the oilis intimately associated with male status, and it is the item that is primarilyneeded in order to acquire all other objects of value.

Tradein Karao oil continues to date, with adult men making at least one trading tripeach year. Weiner notes that it has increased with pacification, presumably asa result of the easier flow of goods through networks and the consequentexpansion of the networks themselves. Transactions take place betweenestablished trading partners. In the past very large and highly prized pearlshells would have been traded for the oil, but today the oil is obtained withmoney, thus again probably increasing its circulation. In addition to thesetransactions of goods, Foi men provide sago flour to their long-standingHighlands partners, who in reciprocal manner invite their Foi partners to theirpig feasts where pork is given to them (Weiner 1988:65), thereby reinforcingthe bond between the traders through the friendly act of sharing food.