Anthropo- / zoomorphic figure · Papua New Guinea - Gulf, Urama Island, Iwaino · ID: 3048543
Mallams Auctioneers Abingdon, 2015
Desmond Morris (*1928), Great Britain
Mallams Auctioneers Oxford, 2019
Morris is an English zoologist, ethologist and surrealist painter, as well as a popular author in human sociobiology. He is known for his 1967 book “The Naked Ape”, and for his television programmes such as “Zoo Time”.
Description
wood, pigments,
In this object, the natural growth form of a branch or tree root was translated into a figure.
It is probably related to the “imunu” concept, which is widespread throughout the Gulf area.
Strange or unusual things possess “imunu” to a greater degree than ordinary things. The meaning of “imunu” is elusive, it is roughly synonymous for vital strength or vital principle.
The object Anthropo- / zoomorphic figure with the object ID 3048543 was last part of the auction 97th Auction at November 6, 2021 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 30.
You can find more Figures and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on Oceanian art.
Comparing literature
Newton, Douglas, Art Styles of the Papuan Gulf, New York 1961, p. 63, ill. 142 Hamson, Michael, Red Eye of the Sun, Los Angeles 2010, p. 74