Bukie people, fringe Abelam, Sepik River region, PNG. 19th Century, stone-carved.

Betel mortars, common in many parts of the Sepik Coast and River, are quite rare among the mountain Abelam. And this is a very fine example – a bowl supported by two figures; simple and elegant as found in many stone-carved objects such as this one. Ex-Elizabeth Pryce collection, Sydney.