Sculpture, late 20th Century
Possibly Kwoma culture; Middle Sepik River Region, East Sepik Pro…

Spirit Figure

ClassificationsSculpture

Culturepossibly Kwoma

Datelate 20th Century

Made AtEast Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

MediumWood, pigment and cowrie shell

Dimensions55 in. (139.7 cm)

Credit LineGift of the Jordan Community Trust

Object number98.18.10

DescriptionThis is a polychrome, totemic sculpture of a bird, amorphic figure and mask from Papua New Guinea’s Sepik River. Based on the lack similar examples in museum collections and the evidently recent pigmentation, this is likely a relatively contemporary sculpture, a factor which makes identification difficult. The pigmentation pattern and creation of semi-similar totemic figures may indicate that this was made by the Kwoma culture of the Washkuk mountains, though it does also bear some thematic similarities to the haus tambaran gable finials of the Iatmul. It should be noted that most Sepik peoples are descended from one common root. Due to this commonality and trade along the river, there is a good deal of artistic similarity spanning the length of the Sepik.

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