Korwar Amulet Figure

Geelvink Bay, West Papua
19th-early 20th c.

Published: “Korwar-Northwest New Guinea ritual art according to missionary sources”, 2019, pg. 265.
“Indonesian Tribal Art”, 2015, pgs. 270-271.
Provenance: Rodger Dashow collection, Boston

This large and unusually refined Korwar amulet approaches the scale and presence of a full-sized ancestor figure. Amulets of this type were imbued with the power of ancestral spirits and served multiple purposes: worn on the body for protection, success in warfare or hunting, to attract romantic partners, or tied to personal possessions to prevent theft. This example was almost certainly worn against the skin, as indicated by its smooth, oily patina and softened contours from prolonged handling.

The figure’s face is masterfully carved, with a high-domed forehead and a concave facial plane that lends the figure an expressive, almost contemplative presence. The mouth extends outward in a distinctive arc, balanced by an arrow-shaped nose and oval-outlined eyes. The torso is framed by a carved shield-like form decorated with a deeply incised scroll motif—a powerful visual device that may allude to protection or ancestral authority.

Suspended from a cord around the figure are two 19th-century Chinese glass trade beads and a pair of crocodile teeth—additions that not only enhance its visual appeal but reinforce its talismanic function.