What are examples of the Massim style in Melanesian art?

The Massim style is a distinctive form of stylized, curvilinear wood carving originating from the southeastern region of Papua New Guinea, including the Trobriand Islands and the Louisiade Archipelago.1

Common examples of objects featuring this style include:

• Canoe components: Elaborately decorated prows, sterns, and splashboards often featuring representations of cultural heroes, animals, and stars.12
• Betel chewing implements: Lime spatulas—the most numerous items in Massim art—and betel mortars.12
• Ceremonial and functional items: Dance paddles, ceremonial staffs, drums, bowls, and ax handles.12
• Weaponry: War shields and long, flat war clubs.12
• Architecture: Decorated gable boards found on the houses and yam stores of chiefs.12

These carvings typically combine human and animal forms with abstract motifs like scrolls, chevrons, and circles. While some items are painted in red, white, and black, many wooden objects feature incised designs filled with lime to create a striking black-and-white contrast.12