Collection Online

Browse by artist name

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
Male ancestor figure

Sepik River, Papua New Guinea
Male ancestor figure
 (early 20th century)

Medium
earth pigments on wood, shell, fibre

Measurements
35.5 × 11.5 × 12.0 cm

Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of Miss Ola Cohn, 1956

Reproduction requests

Gallery location
Not on display

Artwork Details

Place/s of Execution
Sepik River, Papua New Guinea

Accession Number
1634-D4

Departments
Oceanic Sculpture / Pacific Art

This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Vizard Foundation

Physical description
Carved male figure with rhombic shaped head standing on a round base. Stylised face and prominent nose, pierced with twisted rope threaded through. Hands bent at the elbow, holding baby which is attached to his chin, eyes set with shells. Rope or fibre around the waist and ears.

Explore the collection

Ngusu ngusu (Ancestor figure) Roviana Island, Western Province, Solomon Islands Temar ne ari (Ancestor spirit figure) Lacon Ormatua, fisherman's god Rarotonga, Cook Islands Untitled Rudolf Wepnang Diyigu, Yena ceremonial sculpture Father of Kawumija Ancestor figure Sepik River, Papua New Guinea Temar ne ari (Ancestor spirit figure) Mansak House post figure Lake Sentani, West Papua Untitled Francis Tongoi Yam mask Abelam people, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea Untitled Ignas Kram Untitled Kambot people, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea Minja figure Kwoma people, Washkuk Hills, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea Yena ceremony pot Awosobo Pig man/Pis mangi (Fish) Eric Bridgeman Mija ceremonial sculpture named Sukumija Manal Kapay Chris the lightweight, Buka Taloi Havini; Stuart MILLER (photographer) Apeyiipiitii, Yena spirit Meyibor Oluk Highway, Wahgi Valley Eric Bridgeman Self-portrait with front of Pe'a, Sentinel road, Herne Bay Greg Semu Maze sculpture or Table plateau Alex JELINEK Nggwalandu Abelam people, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea The arrival, diptych Greg Semu Mask Tami Islands, Huon Gulf, Morobe Province / Umboi Island, Papua New Guinea If I die please delete my Soundcloud Natasha Matila-Smith Untitled David Saka Ancestor figure Massim people, Woodlark Island, Trobriand Islands, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea Light Greg Semu Kowanay Poko, a Mija spirit Meyibor The sighting Greg Semu