Ancestral Figue (Ngwalndu)

Artist:Abelam

Medium: Wood, pigment

Geograhical Locations:

• Anlilip Village, Maprik area, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

Dates:20th century

Dimensions: 156 x 14 1/2 x 12 1/2 in. (396.2 x 36.8 x 31.8 cm)

Collections:

• Arts of the Pacific Islands

Exhibitions:

• In Pursuit of the Spiritual: Oceanic Art Given by Mr. and Mrs. John A. Friede and Mrs. Melville W. Hall

Accession Number: 81.164.1

Image: 81.164.1_bw.jpg,

Catalogue Description:
Ceremonial house ("tambaran") figure in form of a wooden anthropomorphic figure painted red, yellow ochre, white and black. The body consists of a thin vertical shaft with scalloped edges. Extending from top of head are two large hornbill heads; there are also hornbill heads at base of figure. On each side of the figure, in high relief are other avian forms, some of which are parrots, and human heads. Condition: Deep crack on left side of head extending from crown to chin. There are checks on face, forehead. Just below head, in high relief is a central group of avian-like forms that has a crack on left side and there is slight movement at the break. Loop under chin cracked, but firm and no movement. Received with modern metal stand.

Brooklyn Museum