Figure

58-17-3

From: Southwest Coast, New Guinea | New Guinea

Curatorial Section: Oceanian

Object Number 58-17-3
Current Location Collections Storage
Culture Asmat
Provenience Southwest Coast, New Guinea | New Guinea
Section Oceanian
Materials Wood | Pigment
Iconography Man
Description

Soft, light wood; figure in full relief with bust of another figure clasped between feet and facing up. Incised designs on figure-chevrons on body and limbs and half circles on buttocks and one arm; designs and facial feathers are painted with reddish pigment; some traces of black around mouth of main figure. Bust has a wooden plug through nose; splashes of grey paint on face were probably accidental. Both arms have split at elbows; one is glued. May have been used in the joai-feast to celebrate the building of a new men's clubhouse.

Credit Line Bequest of Harry B. Wright, 1958

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