Korwar Ancestor sculpture, Papua New Guniea, Tribal Art

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Korwar Ancestor sculpture, Papua New Guniea, Tribal Art:
$555.00

A Korwar Ancestor idol from Cenderawasih Bay, New Guinea, Papua (Irian Jaya) Province, Indonesia. Carved from a single piece of very heavy dense wood and showing obvious age and weathering. The peoples of the coasts and islands of Cenderawasih Bay in northwest New Guinea create korwar, figures that portray recently deceased ancestors. Korwar images served as supernatural intermediaries, allowing the living to communicate with the dead, who remained actively involved in family and community affairs. When a family member died, his or her relatives summoned a carver, typically a religious specialist, who created a korwar and enticed the spirit of the deceased to enter it. Korwar imagery was highly conventionalized, depicting the ancestor in a seated or standing position with the robust head and arrow-shaped nose that are the hallmarks of Cenderawasih carving. Although the sex of the figures is often difficult to determine, all were either male or female, depending on the gender of the deceased. Kept by the family, korwar were consulted during crises and prior to important undertakings, such as trading voyages, warfare, or fishing. When a korwar\'s advice proved sound, it was shown great deference. However, if the advice a korwar provided proved wrong, the living at times vented their anger on the figure, hurling it against the walls or house posts or even disgarding it.Condition: Well weathered, Incredibly strong dense wood, like Steel.Provenance: Collected in januray, 2015Dimensions: 24 inches tallCirca: Mid 20th century