Lot 156B
Oceania, Papua New Guinea, Sepik & Karawari River region, Alamblak or Yimam people, ca. early to mid- 20th century CE. A tall wooden figure, carved in the distinctive opposed-hooks style known as a Yipwon, the sculpture embodies a powerful ancestral spirit and was once housed within a men's ceremonial house. Before a hunt or raid, clan members would invoke the spirit into the figure, make offerings, and send it forth to strike down the souls of game or enemies, ensuring success the following day. Successful hunts or victories were honored by smearing the figure with blood or giving it portions of the catch. This Yipwon presents an abstracted human form, with a head and single leg rendered in a comparatively naturalistic manner, contrasted by a central section of radiating, crescent-shaped hooks. These hooks represent the ribs, rotated and arranged around a prominent central element symbolizing the heart. Large Yipwon figures like this were communal possessions, held by clans as guardians and intermediaries. Size: 72.5" L x 10" W (184.2 cm x 25.4 cm)
Provenance: private Tucson, Arizona, USA collection, acquired between 1950 and 1985
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#195678
- Condition: Old inactive insect activity throughout with deep grooves and bore holes. Damage / break line to the head has been reinforced with several iron nails. Weathering to surface as expected with exposure to elements and use. Still very sturdy, but made from a lighter weight wood!
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| $300 | $999 | $50 |
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| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
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| $200,000 + | $20,000 |