Mutuaga and Massim

Lime Spatula

Massim, 1800-1899

Scroll

Artist: Mutuaga
Culture: Massim

Lime Spatula

Massim, 1800-1899

Physical Qualities Wood, pigments, W. 1 1/16 x L. 10 1/8 in. (2.7 x 25.7 cm.)

Credit Line Gift of Alan Wurtzburger

Object Number 1955.251.113

2003: "Among the Massim, spatulas were not only used to serve lime, they could also be endowed with ritual power. A spatula and ritually treated palm nuts could be given to a man to induce him to join in the important and competitive trade system called kula. As preperation for a kula trip, a ritual specialist could summon a spirit to inhabit a spatula with human figures. The spirit in the spatula protected the owner while he slept." either Frederick Lamp or Kathy Fernstrom hand written notes in object file identify both as author

The Baltimore Museum of Art by gift, 1955; Alan Wurtzburger

"The Alan Wurtzburger Collection of Oceanic Art", January 7th-March 4th 1956, Baltimore Museum of Art

Douglas F. Fraser & Paul S. Wingret, "The Wurtzburger Collection of Oceanic Art" , BMA 1956 pg 32. ills 113.

Artist

Mutuaga

1859–1919

c. 1860 - c. 1920

Meet Mutuaga

Culture

Massim

2000–2000

Meet Massim

Explore the Collection Further

BY SAME ARTIST

AFRICA, THE AMERICAS, ASIA, AND THE PACIFIC ISLANDS

Pieter de Bailliu, Jan Gerritsz. van Bronchorst, and others

From the series "Image de divers hommes desprit sublime qui par leur art et science devront vivre eternellement et des quels la lovange et renommée faict estonner le monde" (Antwerp: Jan Meyssens,1649)

1643–1653

James McNeill Whistler

The Lime Burner

1858

Nicolas-Toussaint Charlet and François le Villain

Son cousin l'embrasse joliment...notre bonne!

1825

James McNeill Whistler

The Lime Burner

1858

James McNeill Whistler

Limehouse

1858

James McNeill Whistler and George A. Lucas

The Lime-Burner

1858

THE ABSENT-MINDED. THIS ARTIST, AFTER HAVING BEEN TO THE SALON, IS SEIZED BY A SUBLIME INSPIRATION AND APPROACHES HIS CANVAS. ALL OF A SUDDEN, TONES OF MUSIC, THE MOST PIQUANT EFFECT THE MOST DELICATE TOUCH PROMISING A MASTERPIECE. 2, 3, 4 HOURS GONE BY AND SOMETHING AS APPEALING AS A TITIAN, MICHELANGELO IS LEFT TO POSTERITY..... AFTERWARDS, ONCE HIS EXCITEMENT HAS SUBSIDED, HE REALIZES..... HE HAD FORGOTTEN TO USE THE BRUSH.

Honoré Daumier

Le Distrait. Cet artiste revient du salon, et saisi d’une inspiration sublime il s’approche de sa toile; tout à coup les tons les plus suaves; les effets les plus piquans, la touche la plus délicate promettent un chef-d’œuvre; eux, trois, quatre heures se passent, la postérité l’appelle, il est grand comme le Titien, comme Michel-Ange … puis son imagination se calme, le voilà maître de lui même oh douleur! ….. il n’a fait que remuer les doigts, il n’avait pas pris son pinceau.

1840