Tribal Spirit Figure, Abelam or Sawos People, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

About Auction

Timed

Fine Arts, Antiques and Jewelry Online Auctio...

By Aspire Auctions

Apr 4, 2025 - Apr 12, 2025

Set Reminder 2025-04-04 03:00:00 2025-04-12 07:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Arts, Antiques and Jewelry Online Auction https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/aspire-auctions/fine-arts-antiques-and-jewelry-online-auction-19205
Dale Chihuly (American, b. 1941) Aspire Auctions katya@aspireauctions.com

View Full Catalog (1162)

• Lot Description
  Distinctive spirit figure, likely from the Abelam or Sawos people of the East Sepik region, Papua New Guinea. The figure is wrapped in woven fiber and natural pigments, with a striking yellow-painted face and prominent nose, a hallmark of Abelam ritual art. The head is elaborately adorned with feathers and organic materials, indicating its ceremonial or ancestral significance. The body is wrapped in traditional woven bindings and shell beadwork, reinforcing its sacred purpose. Figures like this are often associated with initiation rites, fertility rituals, or protective spirits, serving as intermediaries between the living and the ancestral world. The elongated lower section, affixed to a wooden rod, suggests it may have been used as a staff, dance ornament, or shrine object.

  Condition

  Natural signs of age and ritual use. Minor wear on pigments and fiber elements, consistent with age. Feathers remain largely intact, with some natural fraying.
• Shipping Info

  • We provide in-house packing and shipping