Large Male Ancestor Figure
Artist:
Unknown
Place made:East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea
Culture: Sawos
Date: 19th century
Medium: Wood and cowrie shells
Dimensions:
h. 107 1/2 in. (273.1 cm)
Credit Line: San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Gilbert M. Denman, Jr.
Object number: 78.1259
Label Text
In villages along the Sepik River, people of the Sawos clan originally displayed an ancestor figure tied to the central post of their cult house. Each figure was responsible for the well being of the clan and represented a specific hero or ancestral creator. Among the Yamok people, the figures represented the ancestors who founded the village and are also known to have made "the swampy ground firm." They were associated with hunting and war, and, prior to such expeditions, they were offered food and hung with betel nuts. If the rituals were not observed, the spirit represented by the figure could bring misfortune to the hunter or warrior.
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.
