Crocodile Figure
ClassificationsSculpture
Date20th Century
Collection SiteEast Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea
MediumWood, pigment and cowrie shell
Dimensions8 1/2 × 7 1/2 × 191 in. (21.6 × 19.1 × 485.1 cm)
Credit LineCollected on behalf of the Bowers Museum by the Roski-Keller-Martin Expedition
Object number2011.1.1
DescriptionAt the center of the creation myth of the people of the Middle Sepik is the crocodile, for all mankind was born from the mouth of the crocodile. This carving, which is a composite of several figures on the back of a crocodile, is always present as young male initiates are scarred in the form of crocodiles on their chest and back, honoring the source of power and origin for all of the people of their village.On View
On view
20th Century
mid to late 20th Century
