Wood, pigments height 43 1/2in (110.5cm) PROVENANCE Philip Goldman Collection, London Marcia and John Friede Collection, New York This exceptional, stone-carved male figure stands in an upright posture with his shoulders swept back with his arms behind his back and hands resting on his buttocks, his large elliptical face with an overreaching forehead above a flat face with raised circular eyes, a linear nose with flared nostrils and grimacing lips, the torso with finely incised designs around the chest and stomach, his slender, well-defined legs in a reverse bend at the knees delineated with knobs, and terminating at the now-lost feet; fine, weathered light-brown patina. Most likely ceremonial in function, these cult figures, like suspension hooks, were popular in all parts of the Middle Sepik River region where they were hung on both cult houses and dwellings and served as protective devices. Large ceremonial cult figure of the Sawos served as both a "representation of a powerful culture hero" and were considered to a perform " a highly sacred function"... ...[They] were responsible for the general well-being of their community...[and] had specific names and were the property of clans. They were used to ward off disease and evil and to assist in hunting animals or in headhunting expeditions." (Wardwell, 1994: p 60)
Wood, pigments height 43 1/2in (110.5cm) PROVENANCE Philip Goldman Collection, London Marcia and John Friede Collection, New York This exceptional, stone-carved male figure stands in an upright posture with his shoulders swept back with his arms behind his back and hands resting on his buttocks, his large elliptical face with an overreaching forehead above a flat face with raised circular eyes, a linear nose with flared nostrils and grimacing lips, the torso with finely incised designs around the chest and stomach, his slender, well-defined legs in a reverse bend at the knees delineated with knobs, and terminating at the now-lost feet; fine, weathered light-brown patina. Most likely ceremonial in function, these cult figures, like suspension hooks, were popular in all parts of the Middle Sepik River region where they were hung on both cult houses and dwellings and served as protective devices. Large ceremonial cult figure of the Sawos served as both a "representation of a powerful culture hero" and were considered to a perform " a highly sacred function"... ...[They] were responsible for the general well-being of their community...[and] had specific names and were the property of clans. They were used to ward off disease and evil and to assist in hunting animals or in headhunting expeditions." (Wardwell, 1994: p 60)
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.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
