Ancestor Figure of Mother and Child
Artist:
Unknown
Place made:Papua New Guinea
Date: late 19th-early 20th century
Medium: Painted wood and cowrie shells
Dimensions:
h. 31 in. (78.8 cm); w. 14 9/16 in. (37 cm)
Credit Line: San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Gilbert M. Denman, Jr.
Object number: 77.1040
Label Text
This sculpture is thought to be a rare example of a mythological ancestor composition featuring a mother and child, invoking the female ancestor's role as a protective and fertile earth mother. This example has remnants of painted decoration on the face, and features the expressively naturalistic touch of the infant reaching toward its mother's breast.
On view
In Collection(s)
The San Antonio Museum of Art is in the process of digitizing its permanent collection. This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect SAMA's complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of such records is ongoing.
This resource has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.
