Spirit figure

Coastal Sepik

Papua New Guinea

Early 20th Century

Wood, Pigments

22.9cm

ex. Boston Private Collection

In the Coastal Sepik region, small personal figures depicting spirits are carved for esoteric magical purposes and used by sorcerers for a plethora of reasons, such as hunting, fishing, disease, and weather; their exact purpose is known only to the sorcerer who makes and uses them. The present piece is an impeccable example of this type: the mask-like face has deeply incised, sharp, and defined features exuding a sense of antiquity which faded as artistic tradition changed over time and religious beliefs shifted. The wide, curvilinear body contrasts yet complements the sharply defined face and head. Most notably, the widely looped arms and stout, squat legs make ample use of negative space, giving the carving a dynamic dimensionality characteristic of great Sepik figural sculpture.