Ritual clay figure, around 1900 ·  Papua New Guinea - Lower Sepik, East Sepik Province, Pora Pora River · ID: 3046886

Description

terracotta, base

Little is known to date about the origin and function of these striking clay sculptures. The only documented evidence is the sites that stretch from the mouth of the Sepik up along the southern bank to the Chambri Lake area, which was already established by A. Meyer in 1995.

Some information is provided by Patricia May and Margaret Tuckson “The traditional pottery of Papua New Guinea” (2000). They note that clay itself was considered magical and is equated with the processs of creation that is “symbolized by fertility and blood”, with the clay figures, faces, and modeled forms likely representing clan spirits and totems.

Comparing literature

May, Patricia and Margaret Tuckson, The traditional pottery of Papua New Guinea, Honolulu, 2000 Meyer, Anthony J.P., Ozeanische Kunst, Vol. I, Köln 1995, p. 193, ill. 199