Amulet Figure

Murik Lakes River region, Papua New Guinea
19th c.

Provenance: Old European collection
Fred Corio collection, NJ

Carved as a compact, portable form, the figure features bent legs drawn tightly together, a slender torso, and freely carved arms, all supporting a striking oversized head. The face is intensely expressive—defined by a bulbous projecting nose, pronounced chin, and large oval eyes—giving the small sculpture a powerful presence far beyond its scale. A pierced loop at the crown indicates it was worn, most likely as a beard amulet by a senior or high-ranking individual.

In the art of the Sepik River, the enlarged head is not a distortion—it is a statement. The head is understood as the seat of spiritual force, knowledge, and ancestral presence. By exaggerating it, the carver emphasizes intellect, authority, and connection to the spirit world. What matters most is made largest. The surface shows a dry, granular patina, with areas of wear from prolonged handling and contact with the body—evidence of its life as a personal object of protection and potency.