A Superb Old New Guinea Basket Hook Figure Middle Sepik River Area East Sepik Province Papua New Guinea

A Fine Old New Guinea Basket Hook Figure, Sawos People, Middle Sepik River Area, East Sepik Province Papua New Guinea

This fine old used Basket Hook Figure is most likely from the Sawos People in the Middle Sepik River area in the East Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea.

Finely carved in the form of a standing female ancestor, her feet resting on the top of the hook, where once the string bags were hung/

Her legs are slightly bent, and his hands held to his hips, and she has incised scarification on her stomach, just as a woman once had in the villag,e signifying their clan affiliations. She has cowrie shell eyes and a fibre nose ornament,

This fine Basket Hook figure has a deep aged patina from long use and handling and on the hook where the food bags were once hung.

Basket hooks were used to hang from the ceiling by a rope and string bags of food or other important objects that then could not be reached by rats or mice.  A simple effective technology used by cultures around the world.

Sepik River artists made many beautiful utilitarian art objects that were both functional and a way of honouring and making visible their ancestors daily.

Collected by Martin Gross (1922-2017) in 1968 in Andabu, Papua New Guinea

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Private Collection of Oceanic Art

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I have artwork for Museums and art Galleries but also for collectors at every stage of their collecting. I want to encourage people to explore the fine art of New Guinea & West Papua and the Pacific Islands and to be able to see and touch the artworks in a relaxed and friendly manner in my Sydney Gallery. I would like to invite you to visit my gallery and see the artworks in person and also look at my website www.oceanicartsaustralia.com where there are many Galleries & Sub Galleries to explore.

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