Male Funerary Figure, 20th Century
Iatmul culture; Middle Sepik River region, East Sepik Provi…

Ancestor Figure

ClassificationsSculpture

Culture Iatmul

Date20th Century

Made AtEast Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

MediumWood, shell, pigment and cassowary feather

Dimensions54 × 11 1/2 × 7 in. (137.2 × 29.2 × 17.8 cm)

Credit LineGift of the Goldenberg Estate and the Sweeney Family

Object number2018.10.1

DescriptionThis is a standing wood funerary sculpture of a man created by the Iatmul people of the Middle Sepik River region of Papua New Guinea in the 20th Century. These funerary figures were created by members of the deceased’s clan and then decorated with objects depicting feats they accomplished. They serve the dual role of honoring the recently deceased and as individuals and as embodiments of their great ancestors. Funerary tradition along the Sepik is rich, and is heavily represented by multi-medium objects created by the Iatmul. The overmodelled skulls created by the Iatmul are further evidence of this.

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