25 Pacific Masterworks in Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
25 Pacific Masterworks in Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Curated by Steven G. Alpert
From the onset, there was something so very special about being with Bill and Bertha Teel. Bertha brought an electrifying buzz into any room. She was from New Orleans, and had perfect southern charm mixed with good taste and immediacy of the moment. Bill was patrician, quiet and thoughtful. They made a fine pair and were perfect partners in their avid collecting pursuits.
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA) has been greatly enriched by not only the Teel's collection, but by their generosity and commitment to share their passion, intelligence and appreciation for high artistry from Africa and the Pacific rim in the public domain. The MFA is one of America's most comprehensive and encyclopedic museums in the United States with a collection of approximately 500,000 items spanning superb European and American collections, an immense collection of Japanese and Asian art, Egyptian and other diverse horizons from antiquity, as well as choice African art. In its current location, constructed in 1909, the MFA is said to be the 52nd most annually visited museum in the world. We at Art of the Ancestors, strongly encourage our readership and visitors to Boston make a beeline to this venerable and thoroughly enjoyable institution. Meanwhile Art of the Ancestors has assembled a presentation of select highlights from the MFA's Pacific Arts collection for our readers' edification.
1
Figure | Gana Gana | Batak
Batak peoples, Indonesia
20th Century
Bequest of William E. Teel
2014.207
2
Dayak Figure | Borneo
Dayak, Northeastern Borneo
Mid 18th – 19th century
Gift of William E. and Bertha L. Teel
1994.411
3
Carved Torajan Door | Sulawesi
Toraja peoples, Sulawesi, Indonesia.
20th Century
Bequest of William E. Teel
2014.305
4
Ancestor Figure | Tanimbar Islands
Tanimbar Islands, Indonesia
20th Century
Bequest of William E. Teel
2014.205
5
Royal Ancestor Figure | Leti Island
Leti Island, Indonesia
19th Century
Bequest of William E. Teel
2014.262
6
Roof Panel | Lake Sentani
Lake Sentani, Papua New Guinea
19th – 20th Century
Bequest of William E. Teel
2014.290
7
Bark Cloth | Maro | Humboldt Bay
Teluk Yos Sudarso (Humboldt Bay), Papua Barat, Indonesia
Early 20th Century
Gift of William E. and Bertha L. Teel
1991.1076
8
Male Figure | Lake Sentani
Lake Sentani, Papua Barat, Indonesia
Early 20th Century
Bequest of William E. Teel
2014.328
9
Male Figure | Asmat | West Papua
Papua Barat, Indonesia
20th Century
Gift of William E. and Bertha L. Teel
1996.396
10
Standing Figure | Trobriand Islands
Trobriand Islands, Massim, Papua New Guinea
Late 19th Century
Bequest of William E. Teel
2014.192
11
Canoe Ornament | Trobriand Islands
Trobriand Islands, Massim, Papua New Guinea
19th Century
Gift of William E. and Bertha L. Teel
1994.406
12
Suspension Hook | Biwat (Mundugumor) | East Sepik
Yuat River Region, East Sepik, Papua New Guinea
19th – 20th Century
Gift of William E. and Bertha L. Teel
1994.403
13
Flute Figure | Mundugumor | Papua New Guinea
Yuat River, Papua New Guinea
Early 20th Century
Gift of William E. and Bertha L. Teel
1991.1078
14
Canoe Prow | New Ireland
New Ireland, Papua New Guinea, Melanesia
19th – 20th Century
Gift of William E. and Bertha L. Teel
1991.1073
15
Mask | Eharo | Elema
Gulf of Papua, Papua New Guinea
Late 19th — Early 20th Century
Bequest of William E. Teel
2014.308
16
Dance Shield | Kai Diba | Trobriand Islands
Trobriand Islands, Massim, Papua New Guinea
20th Century
Bequest of William E. Teel
2014.323
17
Shield | Trobriand Islands
Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea
Late 19th Century
Gift of William E. and Bertha L. Teel
1992.414
18
Helmet Mask | Kakaparaga | Witu Island
Witu Island, Papua New Guinea
Late 19th Century
Gift of William E. and Bertha L. Teel
1991.1075
19
Mask | Kepong / Ges | New Ireland
New Ireland
Late 19th Century
Gift of William E. and Bertha L. Teel
1991.1072
20
Stilt Step | Tapuva’e | Marquesas Islands
Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia
19th – 20th Century
Gift of William E. and Bertha L. Teel
1992.418
21
Carved Maori Face | Aotearoa
Aotearoa; New Zealand
19th – 20th Century
Gift of William E. and Bertha L. Teel
1994.399
22
Maori Feeding Funnel | Korere | Aotearoa
Aotearoa; New Zealand
19th – 20th Century
Gift of William E. and Bertha L. Teel
1991.1071
23
Maori Treasure Box | Waka Huia | Aotearoa
Aotearoa; New Zealand
19th Century
Gift of William E. and Bertha L. Teel
1994.422a-b
24
Carved Maori Head | Aotearoa
Aotearoa; New Zealand
Mid-19th to Early 20th Century
Gift of William E. and Bertha L. Teel
1994.424
25
Navigation Chart | Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands, Micronesia
Mid-20th Century
Bequest of William E. Teel
2014.301
All artworks and images presented in this feature are the property of Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
© Museum of Fine Arts, Boston