A Fine Old New Guinea Basket Hook Figure Sepik River Area Papua New Guinea

A Fine Old New Guinea Basket Hook Figure Sepik River Area Papua New Guinea

This old and well-used Basket Hook Figure is from the Sepik Area in The East Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea. I have not yet been able to find a similar Basket Hook that is published to determine the exact area/culture that made the superb sculpture.

In the form of an anthropomorphic bird man that represents a category of powerful ancestral beings called waken.  The Basket hook can be read either orientation up or down. For practical use of the hooks are to hang bilum bags from.  Basket Hooks had an important practical function, to keep food safe from rodents, when the basket hook is hung from the ceiling by a single string or rope no rodent can climb down that single rope to get to the net bags containing the family food that is hung from the basket hooks.  Basket Hooks can be some of the most beautiful artworks made in the Sepik River area.  You will see several more of these artworks on my website.

Sometimes small Basket Hooks like this example were used for hanging a man’s magical bag that contained betel nuts and amulets and botanicals used for magic.  This small Basket Hook was probably used for that purpose. The hole where it is hung from looks very much like female genitals which is a ” warning sign not to touch ”

Dating from the late 19th – early 20th Century.  On a fine custom-made display stand that makes it appear to be floating in air, it can then be displayed on a table or shelf where you can see both sides of the very rare and interesting sculpture.

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of  New Guinea Oceanic Art

I first went to Papua New Guinea in 1985 for an adventure & what I found was that I really enjoyed being with the people of New Guinea, over the next 38 years I spent extensive time spent collecting and documenting traditional art & ceremonies in remote areas of Papua New Guinea & West Papua, The Solomon Islands & Vanuatu & the other Pacific Islands countries. During these travels, I made major collections of New Guinea & Oceanic Art for major Museums and Public Art Galleries

I was honoured by being in the prestigious Louvre Museum Magazine for the collections I made for The Museum of African & Oceanic Art Paris in 1996 (now the Musee Quai Branly) for the exhibition “Asmat et Mimika d’ Irian Jaya April 1996 At THE MUSEE NATIONAL des ARTS D’AFRIQUE et d’ OCEANIE, Paris

See all of the links & photos in my new EXHIBITIONS GALLERY and there is the link to the article in the prestigious Louvre Magazine 1996

I have artwork for Museums & 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.

My Gallery of nearly 40 years is the last physical gallery in Sydney that specialises in New Guinea & Oceanic Art. Sydney is just a couple hours’ flight to New Guinea & the Pacific Islands where all of these amazing artworks came from, Australia’s closest neighbours.

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If you have a similar “object” for sale please contact me for the best price and honest advice by a Government approved valuer 

To see many more rare items and the finest masterpieces, please make an appointment with us to visit the gallery.

For all inquiries, please contact us.