A Superb Old New Guinea Basket Hook Figure Middle Sepik River Area East Sepik Province Papua New Guinea

A Superb Old New Guinea Basket Hook Figure Sawos People Middle Sepik River Area East Sepik Province Papua New Guinea

This fine old used Basket Hook Figure is from the Sawos People in the Middle Sepik River area in the East Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea.

Finely carved from a single piece of hardwood in the form of a standing female ancestor her feet resting on the top of the hook where once string bags were kept this area shows extensive long use. The surface of this figure has a nice aged patina from long use and handling over several generations

The ancestor figure expressive face with inset cowrie shell eyes, and her mouth is open showing her teeth, she holds her hands to her sides as if she is commanding your attention.

This sculpture comes from an ancient tradition of artworks made to connect people to their ancestors & the spirit world. Spirits or mythical beings associated with specific clans whose powers assure the success of agriculture, hunting, fishing, and other human endeavours.

Basket hooks were used to hang from the ceiling by a rope and string bags of food or other important objects that then could not be reached by rats or mice. A simple effective technology used by cultures around the world.

Sepik River artists made many beautiful unitarian art objects that were both functional and a way of honouring and making visible their ancestors in daily life.

Provenance: Old Collection Australia. The Todd Barlin Private Collection of Oceanic Art

See my new EXHIBITIONS GALLERY  showing the Museums and Art Galleries Exhibitions that I provided artworks for over the past 40 years. There is the link to the article about my artworks published in the prestigious Louvre Magazine in 1996

I have artwork for Museums and art Galleries but also for collectors at every stage of their collecting. I want to encourage people to explore the fine art of New Guinea & West Papua and the Pacific Islands and to be able to see and touch the artworks in a relaxed and friendly manner in my Sydney Gallery. I would like to invite you to visit my gallery and see the artworks in person and also look at my website www.oceanicartsaustralia.com where there are many Galleries & Sub Galleries to explore.

My Gallery of nearly 40 years is the last physical gallery in Sydney that specializes in New Guinea and Oceanic Art.  Sydney is very close to New Guinea & the Pacific Islands where all of these amazing artworks came from, Australia’s closest neighbours.

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