Standing male ancestor figure "kawe" ·  Westneuguinea / Westpapua (Irian Jaya), Asmat · ID: 3039033

Description

wood, matt reddish brown patina, provided with extreme overlong and slender limbs, the body slightly twisted, exreme filigree work of carving, the head egg-shaped with broad lower jaw and narrow forehead zone, slightly dam., missing part or knothole: the left ear is missing, base;
probably representing an ancestor figure “kawe”. 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.