Lot 180

Tiwi Ancestral Tutini Totem Pole

Estimate: $100 - $300

Price Realized: $115 Includes buyer's premium

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Lot 180
Tiwi Ancestral Tutini Totem Pole
Description
A Tiwi ancestral totem pole (tutini) hand-carved from a single log of cured ironwood and features a stylized human figure with an oversized head, prominent facial features, and arms resting at the side, the entire surface is hand-painted in natural earth ochres with traditional jilamara (geometric dot and line) patterns in red, yellow, black, and white pigments, and it stands as a ceremonial representation of an ancestor used in Tiwi pukumani funerary rites.
Details
ironwood, pigment
height: 25 inches
diameter: 8 inches
Provenance
The Eugene and Dorothy Prakapas Estate, proceeds to benefit a scholarship fund at Yale University
Condition
The sculpture is in overall good condition, exhibiting a stable surface with a rich natural patina and minor scattered abrasions consistent with its construction from dense ironwood


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Contact Information
Becky Sue Expert Specialist Photo +1 (234) 567-890

Other works from Antiques, Design & Decor May 28, 2026 (sale completed)