Spirit Figure (Yipwon or Kamanggabi)
ClassificationsSculpture
Culture
Yimam
Datelate 20th Century
Made AtEast Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea
MediumWood
Dimensions95 1/8 × 9 × 2 5/8 in. (241.6 × 22.9 × 6.7 cm)
Credit LineGift of Anne and Long Shung Shih
Object number2013.5.26
DescriptionThis is a modern example of a one leg figure. One-legged figures rested in caves for hundreds of years until their discovery in the 1960s. A major discovery, cave figures are some of the oldest Pacific Island art yet found. Stored in a special place in the men's ceremonial house, they were activated through incantations and magical substances to serve as hunting spirits.On View
Not on viewCollections
Prehistoric
