Suspension hook ·  Papua New Guinea - Sepik · ID: 3035981

Description

wood, blackish brown patina, not the whole shaft, but just the upper third carved with an anthropomorphic half figure, drilled hole, slightly dam., abrasion of paint, small traces of insect caused damage, rep. (sickle-shaped hook backside), small knothole, base;
figural hooks were integral components of men’s houses, serving two primary functions, both protective. The first was practical. The sculptures were hung from the rafters or eves, with valuable foods and personal items hung on their hooks, keeping them away from the numerous vermin. The second was the protection the hooks gave as intermediaries to the inhabitant ancestral spirits.

The object Suspension hook with the object ID 3035981 was last part of the auction 75th tribal art auction at November 30, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 38 achieved a sales price of EUR 3,800.

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