A Selection of Oceanic Art / OC-072401-11
Previous Home Next

 

OC-072401-11

Female figure
Sepik River area, Papua New Guinea
Wood with white lime, and reddish ochre and black linear details
Probably very early 20th century
H: 11.5 in. (29.21 cm), W: 3.625 in. (9.2075 cm)
Ex Dr. Mark D. Altschule Collection, Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University
Standing with exaggerated beak-like nose connected to abdomen, notched beard accented by white lime inlay. Her arms, open-carved with the hands resting on pronated legs. The female genitalia are outlined in black linear designs on the conical termination of the torso: breasts are also indicated by black circles. The head is surmounted by a wedge-like tab, probably to secure a suspensory strand or coiffure which is no longer present.