Papua New Guinea

Antique Sepik River Papua New Guinea Tribal Elder Fetish Figure with Hair Topper

Antique Sepik River Papua New Guinea Tribal Elder Fetish Figure with Hair Topper
Antique Sepik River Papua New Guinea Tribal Elder Fetish Figure with Hair Topper
Antique Sepik River Papua New Guinea Tribal Elder Fetish Figure with Hair Topper
Antique Sepik River Papua New Guinea Tribal Elder Fetish Figure with Hair Topper
Antique Sepik River Papua New Guinea Tribal Elder Fetish Figure with Hair Topper

Antique Sepik River Papua New Guinea Tribal Elder Fetish Figure with Hair Topper
From the remote Sepik River basin of Papua New Guinea comes this hand-carved wooden fetish figure, depicting an elder or ancestral male with ritualized features and an original hair topper bound in natural fiber. The Sepik peoples carved such figures as vessels for ancestral presence - guardians of the village, keepers of fertility, and intermediaries between the living and the spirit world. Every incision, every curve of the face and body, reflects centuries of tradition passed through the carver's hands. The elongated facial features, scarification marks, and intense expression all speak to the region's distinctive style. This example retains its aged, matte patina and organic binding at the crown, giving it an unfiltered, museum-grade authenticity. Whether viewed as tribal art or as sculpture, it has tremendous presence - the kind that anchors a room in silence. Very good vintage condition with authentic age wear. Hair topper intact and original. No breaks or modern restoration. Origin: Sepik River Region, Papua New Guinea. Material: Hand-carved hardwood, natural fiber, animal/human hair.

Sepik River carving, Papua New Guinea tribal art, PNG fetish figure, ancestor statue, wooden tribal carving, Oceanic art, Melanesian sculpture, ethnographic artifact, Papua elder figure, spiritual fetish.


Antique Sepik River Papua New Guinea Tribal Elder Fetish Figure with Hair Topper