Wooden Amulet Figure

Murik Lakes, Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea
19th–Early 20th c.

Provenance: Ernst Heinrich, Stuttgart; Craig Delora, New Jersey, Private French collection
Published: “Manimals”, Yann Ferrandin Gallery, Paris, 2009
“Powerful Magic: Miniature Sculptures from the Sepik River Region”, Bruce Frank Primitive Art, New York, 2013, fig. 3

Small personal amulets from the Sepik region were typically carved from lightweight wood, allowing them to be worn or affixed to important objects for protection and ritual efficacy. This example is carved from medium density wood in a strikingly linear style. The short legs and free-carved arms emphasize the figure’s elongated torso, while the neckless, oval-shaped head dominates the composition. Bold facial features—particularly the arrow-shaped configuration encircling the eyes and nose—are heightened by a strongly projecting chin, lending the piece a vivid expressive power.