Hook "garra" ·  Papua New Guinea - Middle Sepik - Hunstein Mountains, Bahinemo · ID: 3040381

Description

light wood, painted with red ochre, lime and black pigment, opposing hooks on a long, thin, curved “backbone”, dotted ornaments, slightly dam., rep.;
“garra” are carried in the hands of male dancers during initiation ceremonies. The concentric hooked “garra” are not true masks. They are thought to represent an image of the cosmos with the hooks of the hornbill beaks distributed around the middle element of the sun and moon. Others interpret the “garra” as representing a catfish. Hooked “garra” are also identified with water spirits, and should be kept immersed or at least in a wet place.