An extremely rare lid from a coffin or bone-box carved in the form of either a dog or a mythological crocodile. The animal is carved in a reclining position with its head and tail up in an alert and life-like manner. The mouth is slightly open, showing teeth to either side and the tongue protrudes from the tip of the snout. The almond eyes are placed in a naturalistic manner on the top of the head. Probably Biak Island, Geelvink Bay (Korvar Area), Irian Jaya, Indonesian New Guinea, Melanesia. Eroded wood. 67 x 15.5 x 13.5 cm. 19th century or earlier.

See a similar example, possibly by the same artist, in the collections of the Museum of Anthropology, Cenderawasih University, Inv. N° 4.2.95., in THE ELOQUENT DEAD. Jerome Feldman (ed.), UCLA Museum of Cultural History, Los Angeles, 1985. Fig. 182, page 149.