A Finely Carved New Guinea Eagle Totem Sepik River area Papua New Guinea

A Finely Carved New Guinea Eagle Totem Sepik River area Papua New Guinea

This beautiful carved & painted wood figure of an Eagle is from the Sepik River area of New Guinea.

I am not sure of the area of the Sepik it was made but it has a Waskuk feel to it partially because of the ochre painting.

The Kwoma People live in the Waskuk Hills area on the upper Sepik River area.  I am not sure if this bird figure is actually a used ceremonial carving or just a decorative artwork. I bought this bird because it is good art. The muscular-looking bird has a feel that it could have been a medieval gargoyle-type figure.  I have really enjoyed looking at this sculpture each day.

Birds and anthropomorphic birdmen are part of Sepik River art, they can be important clan totems and also anthropomorphic spirit beings that are half-man. Primordial bird-men and bird-women, originally created the sacred musical instruments, consisting of bamboo flutes and slit gongs that were kept within the ceremonial houses and played a central role in the ritual life of their communities.

The Todd Barlin Collection of New Guinea Oceanic Art

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