Sepik River Human And Crocodile Headrest. Papua New Guinea

This Is a Sepik River Headrest from Sepik River, Papua New Guinea. I bought this in Hong Kong in the early 1980s.

It is a beautiful example of polychrome wood carving. It is 22 inch long and 2 1/2 wide.

Many headrests from this region are carved from a single piece of wood and feature stylized heads at both ends with a curved central body. The bamboo legs are missing. Origin: The style is consistent with Oceanic tribal art, specifically from the Sepik River area in Papua New Guinea. Design: These headrests often feature a slightly curved central body with stylized ancestor heads, plants, or totemic animals carved at both ends.

Purpose: In many cultures, these carved wooden "pillows" are used to support the neck or head during sleep, often to preserve elaborate hairstyles. While the wooden portion is the primary body, some traditional Sepik headrests originally had separate wooden or cane legs (sometimes "U" shaped) attached to the base, which are frequently missing in older collected specimens.

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