Canoe prow "tsji tsjemen"
Westneuguinea / Westpapua (Irian Jaya), Asmat
not available anymore
Provenance
Jan Lundberg, Malmö, SwedenSize
L: 47,5 cm
L: 18.7 inch
Description
wood, brown patina, remains of black paint and pigment, in shape of an ancestor figure, with elongated arms embracing the mighty beak of a hornbill, slightly dam./crack (head), minor missing parts (right foot tip, back, ears), abrasion of paint, base.
These motifs, at the head of the canoe, create a sense of unity between the men paddling the canoe and their ancestors, whose spirits protect them.