A small, standing, female ancestor figure carved in a naturalistic manner. Her nose and ears are pierced for attachments. While originally catalogued by Hurst Gallery as from the Iatmul language group and possibly Sibom [Aibom?] village in the Middle Sepik (PNG, Melanesia), Barry Craig identifies the figure as lower Sepik in style. He suggests that “she is probably a Murik Lakes ancestral female-cult figure but could be from anywhere downstream of Angoram“. According to Kathy Barlow (1995:103, 106), “such figures are decorated with flowers and herbs and set up around a waterhole that represents the dwelling place of the female spirits where the girls undergo various trials. The novices sleep with these figures so they can absorb 'seduction and beautification magic' (just as the kandimbong is given to male initiates)“. These female spirits may cause illnesses, “the cure for which is revealed in a possession state by the woman who owns the spirit's statue“ (ibid.). Information kindly supplied by Barry Craig, South Australian Museum, Adelaide, personal communication 27/09/07.

Wood with a red/brown pigment and a glossy patina. The front of the left foot is restored. 32,5 x 9 x 8 cm. 20th century. Ex coll. : Leo & Lilian Fortess, Hawaii. Provenance : Hurst Gallery, Cambridge. Exhibited & illustrated : ART AND ARTEFACTS OF MELANESIA. Hurst Gallery, Cambridge 1992, fig. 37, page 44.

Ref.: Barlow, K.: ACHIEVING WOMANHOOD...' in N. Lutkehaus & P. Roscoe, Gender Rituals. Female Initiation in Melanesia. Routledge, NY/London, 1995