Framed Collection of (4) Upper Xindu Indigenous Manoic Spatulas
A Framed Collection of Four Upper Xingu Indigenous Manioc Spatulas (Pás de Beiju), Mato Grosso, Brazil, Mid-to-Late 20th Century. This striking custom-framed presentation features four hand-carved, semilunar hardwood paddles historically used by the Mehinaku or Waurá peoples to flip cassava flatbread (beiju) over hot earthenware griddles. Each utilitarian paddle is meticulously smoothed and decorated on one side with bold, graphic geometric motifs hand-painted using natural vegetal pigments (urucum and genipapo). The vertical sequence displays a sophisticated taxonomy of Upper Xingu zoomorphic and mythological iconography, depicting, from top to bottom, a stylized fish-scale design (kupapa), an interlocking anaconda serpent lattice, a bold boxy motif mimicking the facial markings of a jaguar (jauara), and a chevron layout representing forest insect wings. Exhibiting an exceptional natural patina and crisp pigment definition, this curated four-piece ensemble bridges tribal necessity with modern geometric abstraction, presented as a museum-quality collection within a sleek, black shadow-box frame. Frame measures 31.25 x 21.25 inches. Overall good condition, please see photos.
Condition
See description. Shipping: We do not ship in house, you may contact upsstoreauctions@yahoo for quotes. Items can be picked up in person from our gallery as well. In all cases, prospective buyers are responsible for determining the physical condition of lots, as there are no returns based on condition. The printed conditions in the catalog entry are based on opinion only and are provided for guidance only, without legal obligation. The absence of condition reports in the catalog entry does not indicate that the item is in perfect condition.
A Framed Collection of Four Upper Xingu Indigenous Manioc Spatulas (Pás de Beiju), Mato Grosso, Brazil, Mid-to-Late 20th Century. This striking custom-framed presentation features four hand-carved, semilunar hardwood paddles historically used by the Mehinaku or Waurá peoples to flip cassava flatbread (beiju) over hot earthenware griddles. Each utilitarian paddle is meticulously smoothed and decorated on one side with bold, graphic geometric motifs hand-painted using natural vegetal pigments (urucum and genipapo). The vertical sequence displays a sophisticated taxonomy of Upper Xingu zoomorphic and mythological iconography, depicting, from top to bottom, a stylized fish-scale design (kupapa), an interlocking anaconda serpent lattice, a bold boxy motif mimicking the facial markings of a jaguar (jauara), and a chevron layout representing forest insect wings. Exhibiting an exceptional natural patina and crisp pigment definition, this curated four-piece ensemble bridges tribal necessity with modern geometric abstraction, presented as a museum-quality collection within a sleek, black shadow-box frame. Frame measures 31.25 x 21.25 inches. Overall good condition, please see photos.
Condition
See description. Shipping: We do not ship in house, you may contact upsstoreauctions@yahoo for quotes. Items can be picked up in person from our gallery as well. In all cases, prospective buyers are responsible for determining the physical condition of lots, as there are no returns based on condition. The printed conditions in the catalog entry are based on opinion only and are provided for guidance only, without legal obligation. The absence of condition reports in the catalog entry does not indicate that the item is in perfect condition.
