This enigmatic piece comes from the Sepik River area of Papua New Guinea. It’s comparatively small size and the organic materials with which it has been wrapped /libated both suggest that it is a magical device. Alternatively, it might be an ancestor figure, kept nearby to be consulted in times of need. The body is small and gracile, with an oversized head bearing coffee-bean eyes and mouth, arched brows and a slender nose. The surface is worn and intermittently glossy with use wear and libations.
The Sepik River area is arguably the most important artistic region in the Antipodes. The inhabitants live in small villages along the river, which is so fertile that they the populace rarely moves, thus leading to a proliferation of styles in their ritual arts. They use masks for ceremonial purposes and festivals, while figures usually represent ancestors. They were used for manhood initiation procedures, and were otherwise stored in centralised magical huts.
This is a stylish and impressive piece of Oceanic art.