Fish Spirit Sculpture
ClassificationsSculpture
Datemid 20th Century
Made AtEast Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea
Collection SiteEast Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea
MediumWood, shell, cassowary feather and teeth
Dimensionswith stand: 14 × 27 × 4 1/4 in. (35.6 × 68.6 × 10.8 cm)
Credit LineAnonymous Gift
Object number2017.10.88
DescriptionFish shaped figure from the From the Upper Sepik River Region of the East Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea and dates back to the mid-20th century. Fish figure with a carved wood head and a shell-like body and fins. The teeth in the mouth are possibly piranha teeth and consist of multiple rows if sharp teeth. The eyes look like marble or beads. The jaw has fallen off but attached to it are two shells and cassowary feathers. There are small bundles of cassowary feathers attached to the fish throughout. On each side of the body, there are carved detail of filled diamond-like figures with fin-like shapes at two of the four points. Between those shapes is a carved band in a chevron design. There are numerous fins throughout.On View
Not on view
550-1550 CE
mid 19th Century
