Oceania, Papua New Guinea, Middle Sepik River region, Iatmul peoples, ca. early 20th century CE. A tall hand-carved wood food hook in the shape of a female ancestor figure. The nude woman stands on an anchor shaped hook with her hands holding the sides of her arching headdress. The terminal tips of the headdress are carved with additional faces. Her body is stylized and supports an oversized head inlaid with cowrie shells as eyes, and below her flared nose is a grinning, toothy mouth. This piece would hang from the ceiling for suspending baskets that contained food or valuables to protect them from rodents or other pests. Often these hooks are decorated with ancestor spirits, like this figure, or clan symbols that with whom the household could commune. Size: 45" L x 9" W (114.3 cm x 22.9 cm)

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-artist Harry Bertschmann collection, New York, New York, USA, acquired in the 1980s

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#164556

Left terminal end of headdress has broken away from connection point to the left hip on body, leaving a stable fissure. Stable pressure fissures on body. Age and use expected surface wear and chipping and fading of surface pigments. Nice patina. Modern metal hook on verso for mounting.