Drum d'Entrecasteaux Islands, Aire Massim, Papua New Guinea Carved wood. Varan skin 19th century Height: 85.5 cm Provenance: Pierre and Claude Vérité - Pierre and Claude Vérité Collection - Sale Paris Drouot June 17-18, 2006 lot n° 288 - Marcia and John Friede. The Jolika Collection. Rye, New York bibliography: - Galerie Franck Marcelin, Massim 2016 Exhibition Catalog p.84 D'Entrecasteaux Island drums are distinguished from Trobriand drums by their superior, imposing size, commensurate with the importance that was accorded them. "The description and analysis of the rites of Papua New Guinea shows that beating drums night after night participates in the non-proportional emergence of an unspeakable truth." Lemonnier, 6, 2012: 63-76. They feature more extensive surface decoration and more intricately carved ribs along the body, on both sides of the handle. Among the classical corpus, this piece stands out, its rarity linked to the representation of an anthropomorphic figure carved in relief on the handle. Cylindrical in shape, slightly flared at the base. The handle is richly decorated with scrolls and spirals, lending movement to the decoration, and supports a smiling figure, hands firmly positioned on the hips. On either side of the handle, a double frieze is carved with eight stylized bird heads. The drum is encircled by wavelets.