FEMALE FIGURE

Iatmul people

Middle Sepik River, Papua New Guinea

This figure is abstracted depiction of a female ancestor figure. The elongated arms make her almost bird-like, which is part of its magical power. A creation legend of the Sepik River links a giant bird to the first female, who then produced eggs from which hatched creatures that populated the world. On another level. these figures can be viewed as fertility figures. 

Size: 54.5 cm (length) 12 cm (height) 5 cm (depth)

Weight: 216 grams