Sculpture of a crocodile · Papua New Guinea - Bismarck Archipelago - Admirality Islands · ID: 3032957
sold
EUR 400
Provenance
Old Colonial Collection, Hamburg, GermanySepp Arnemann, Hamburg, Germany
Size
L: 76 cm
L: 29.9 inch
Description
light weighted wood, black, red and white pigment, of stylized elongated form, carved with raised scales, slightly dam., crack, paint rubbed off;
in the whole area of Papua New Guinea the crocodile represents an important motif for sculpture. Accordingly it is a preferred motif as stem figure for dugout canoes, which were used for head hunting raids in former times. It plays an important role as “gulping monster” used at initiation rites. Individually carved, like the present example, it might be looked upon as embodiment of a “totem”.