Live Auctioneers are holding Session 2 of the Marc Seidler Collection of New Guinea Art, starting on June 08th, 2024 at 5:00 PM BST.
The Marc Seidler Collection of New Guinea Art – Session 2
Marc Seidler Collection of New Guinea Art: Marc Seidler emigrated to Australia at an early age, where he built a career in business and finance. His fascination with the arts of New Guinea and Aboriginal Australia began in the 1970s. In the late 1970s, Marc took a position managing a hotel on Daru, a small island off the coast of Papua New Guinea in the northernmost Torres Straits. During his time on Daru, he befriended George Craig, a renowned field collector and crocodile hunter, who was among the first to collect art in the Papuan Gulf and Fly River areas in the late 1950s. Craig had an extensive collection, and his wife operated a small shop next to the hotel. Marc adorned the hotel with New Guinea art and purchased numerous pieces directly from Craig’s private collection.
Marc also traveled extensively, exploring the highlands of New Guinea and the Telefolmin region. He forged close friendships with legendary dealers such as Lynda Cunningham, who often stayed on Daru after her collecting trips, and Rudi Ceaser, a frequent guest. Marc and Lynda remained close friends until her death. Marc Seidler passed away in 2020 in Australia, leaving behind a significant collection of New Guinea art.
Kerewa Spirit Board (Titi Ebiha)
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Marc Seidler Collection of New Guinea Art – This fine Kerewa spirit board, known as Titi Ebiha, originates from the Kerewa people of Goaribari Island in the Gulf Province of Papua New Guinea, and dates back to the early 20th century. Traditionally crafted in the central and eastern regions of the Papuan Gulf, these spirit boards were commonly placed in men’s houses among the Kerewa, the peoples of the Era River and Wapo Creek, the Purari delta areas, and the Urama River, extending to the Elema people.
The boards are believed to house an Imunu, or spirit entity, depicted on the front, though the imagery is complex and not a direct representation. Different regions had unique names for these boards: Titi Ebiha for the Kerewa, Gope for the Era and Wapo peoples, with variations such as Kwoi in the Purari region and Hohao in the Elema area. The stylistic depiction varied, with the Kerewa often showing complete figures, while neighboring groups used more abstract forms.
These boards were typically cut from old war canoes, though in the Kerewa region, they were often made from flatter timber specifically for this purpose. This particular piece measures 37 inches tall by 15 inches wide and was acquired by Marc Seidler from George Craig around 1980, with Craig having field-collected it before 1966.
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