Sculpture of a crocodile

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”.