Female ancestor figure "kawe" ·  Westneuguinea / Westpapua (Irian Jaya), Asmat · ID: 3033830

Description

wood, brown patina, extremely elongated slender limbs, “hanging” feet, incised ornamental decor, the ribcage indicated, dam. (nose, mouth), missing parts (toes), strong abrasion, on base;
in the Asmats creation myth the big hero “fumeripit” carved a number of human figures. When beating his drum they came alive, forming the first clans. The rigid motionlessness of the “kawe” figures should remind of the initial inanimateness of the first human beings.

Comparing literature

Helfrich, Klaus u.a., Asmat, Berlin 1996, p. 184, ill. 12.14