Sepik Headrest

This upper part of a neck rest, carved and engraved using stone tools, is adorned with a double head at each end. These ancestral heads feature long noses with pierced septa. On the front face, curvilinear motifs unfold on either side of a sculpted, openwork ridge carved in relief.

According to the inventory records of the Linden Museum (archive no. 92480), this sculpture is listed as no. 159 in collection 1437 and described as follows:
" Brett einer Kopfbank (Karugum), ohne Füsse, auf der Oberseite in je 2 voreinander liegende Tierköpfe endigend, auf der Unterseite 2 Vogelköpfe mit langen Schnäbeln ; plastisches Zackenornament längs der Mitte, im übrigen Flachrelief (Hauptmotiv Ovale), Länge 38 cm, grösste Breite 4 ½ cm. Origine : Tsigar"
“Board of a headrest (Karugum), without feet, ending on the upper side in two animal heads placed one behind the other at each end; on the underside, two bird heads with long beaks; plastic zigzag ornament running along the center, otherwise executed in flat relief (main motif: ovals). Length 38 cm, maximum width 4½ cm. Origin: Tsigar.”

This information, as well as the provenance, has been confirmed by Markus Himmelsbach from the Linden Museum.