oceania | Papua New Guinea
Female Figure
Papua New Guinea
Rauit Village, South of Torricelli Mountains
West Sepik
Carved wood and natural pigments
Early 20th century
Height : 32 ¼ in. (82 cm)
Field-collected by Michael Hamson, Rauit Village, 1999
Ex collection John & Marcia Friede
Ex private collection, Sydney
Illustrated: “Carved and painted works of the Torricellis” Barry Craig, fig. 6 p. 9, Pacific Arts, 2012
Published: Sepik: Hooks, Figures & Masks, 2018
Lumi female figure / Galerie Flak
Price on request
We know of only a very limited number of works coming from the region of the Torricelli Mountains to the north-east of the Sepik.
Barry Craig from the South Australian Museum, in his benchmark study of the sculptures of the region (Pacific Arts, The Journal of the PAA, vol. 12, 2012), was able to list a total of only eight female figures known at present, including the one shown here.
Representing a spirit named Wilbae, this sculpture served in ceremonies linked to healing, fertility of the land and plentiful food. Among their functions, these female spirit figures also insured the success of hunting expeditions and warfare.
Of a remarkable poetry and expressivity, this carved figure brings to mind the figures of such artists as Chaissac or Dubuffet.
Barry Craig from the South Australian Museum, in his benchmark study of the sculptures of the region (Pacific Arts, The Journal of the PAA, vol. 12, 2012), was able to list a total of only eight female figures known at present, including the one shown here.
Representing a spirit named Wilbae, this sculpture served in ceremonies linked to healing, fertility of the land and plentiful food. Among their functions, these female spirit figures also insured the success of hunting expeditions and warfare.
Of a remarkable poetry and expressivity, this carved figure brings to mind the figures of such artists as Chaissac or Dubuffet.
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