Flute Stopper

Itamul, middle Sepik River, Papua New Guinea
19th c

In many communities across New Guinea, flutes serve not only as musical instruments but as powerful spiritual tools. They are believed to carry the voices of ancestors or spirits, functioning as mediums of communication between the spiritual and human realms.

Flute stoppers are essential components of these instruments. Used to modify the sound and often elaborately decorated, they can be crafted from materials such as wood, bamboo, clay, or bone. Beyond their acoustic function, flute stoppers frequently hold symbolic significance—depicting ancestral figures, spirits, totemic animals, or mythological beings. These carvings form a visual and spiritual connection between the player, the community, and the unseen world.

This particular wooden flute stopper is an exceptional early example, likely dating to the 19th century. Carved using non-metal tools, it features a striking composition: a bird with an almost prehistoric appearance perched atop a human head. Remarkably, remnants of the original fiber are still visible, threaded through a pierced nostril of the bird. The piece remains in excellent condition, with a rich, dark brown encrusted surface acquired through decades of use and careful storage.