AN ABELAM FEMALE ANCESTOR FIGURE

Important Aboriginal + Oceanic Art
Melbourne
6 October 2010
210

Artefacts (Oceanic)

Nelikum Village, Maprik Area, EastSepik Province, Papua New Guinea
AN ABELAM FEMALE ANCESTOR FIGURE

natural earth pigments on carved and shaped hardwood, with human hair, string and cowrie shell decoration

139.0 cm height

Estimate: 
$1,400-1,800
Provenance

Acquired at Nelikum Village, 1980s
Private collection, Melbourne

Known as a ‘Yuwibasari' this figure is said to represent women and their contribution towards the Yam planting and harvesting.