Old Bird Figure Sepik River Papua New Guinea

This beautifully carved old Bird Figure is from the Middle Sepik River area in the East Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea. I am still not 100% sure what this Bird Figure was used for, likely for magical purposes , it has cavity inside the bird where probably magical substances were kept like botanicals.  The figure has old patina from handling. I saw one other  example of a carved bird with typical middle Sepik designs that also had a hole in the middle of the bird, this hollowed out section was obviously to put something inside. My guess is that it held botanical mixtures for making some type of magic like for success in hunting, control the weather or protecting from malevolent spirits.  I think one day someone will know exactly what it is for, if you do please let me know.

Dating from the early 20th century .

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