Très belle statue masculine, aire Murik, embouchure du Sepik , Papouasie Nouvelle-Guinée

collects ion Marcia et John Friede, New York

Reproduite dans:
Friede, New Guinea Art - Masterpieces from the Jolika collects ion of Marcia and John Friede, 2005, vol. 1 : 72, n° 47 et vol. 2 : 90

Wear consistent with age and use within the culture: a few stable hairline cracks, chips to the inside of the left foot, visible in the catalogue illustration. Towards the top of the rear of the head there are traces of a pattern indicating a chignon, now missing. Otherwise in very good condition overall, with beautiful encrusted patina.
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cf. Rijksmuseum Kroller-Muller (1990 : 235, n° 89) pour une statue provenant de la même région - embouchure du fleuve Sepik -, également habillée d'un pagne en écorce battue (béron) et le buste offrant, comme ici, des motifs curvilignes profondément gravés (scarifications taganap sigia).

Désignées sous le terme de béron-kandimbong, ces rares statues sont considérées comme la représentation du héros mythique fondateur du clan. Elles étaient conservées dans la Maison des hommes et considérées comme le support incarnant l'esprit de l'ancêtre représenté. Elles jouaient ainsi un rôle essentiel dans le bien-être du clan, en particulier dans les domaines de la chasse et de l'initiation (cf. Rijksmuseum Kroller-Muller, idem : 236).

cf. Meyer (1995 : 188, n° 193) pour une statue attribuée au peuple Murik, identifiée lors de sa collects e comme la représentation d'un ancêtre important du clan, nommé Andio. L'effigie était exposée aux guerriers avant chaque bataille ; et Kaeppler, Kaufmann et Newton (1993 : 587, n° 890) pour une autre conservée au Museum für Völkerkunde de Francfort, représentation de Dibariba.

S'ajoutant à l'importante signification de l'œuvre s'imposent ici non seulement la rareté du corpus, mais également la remarquable qualité de la sculpture - tension des courbes, finesse des modelés, puissance de l'expression - faisant d'elle probablement l'un des chefs-d'œuvre de la - rare - statuaire - des peuples Murik.

A very fine male figure, Murik, coastal Sepik River, Papua New Guinea

cf. Rijksmuseum Kroller-Muller (1990: 235, no. 89) for another figure from the coastal Sepik river with a bark loin-cloth (béron) and deeply carved curvilinear motifs upon the chest (taganap sigia scarification).

Known as béron-kandimbong, these rare figures are thought to represent mythical culture heroes and clan founders. They were kept in the men's ceremonial house and thought to be the incarnation of the spirit of the founding ancestor. These figures played a crucial role in the well-being of the clan, particularly with regard to hunting and initiation (ibid.: 236)

cf. Meyer (1995: 188, no. 193) for a figure attributed to the Murik people, which when collects ed was identified as the representation of an important ancestor named Andio. The figure was shown to warriors before a battle. Also see Kaeppler, Kaufmann and Newton (1993: 587, no. 890) for a similar figure in the Museum für Völkerkunde, Frankfurt, which represents Dibariba.

The importance of this figure is a result not just of the rarity of its type, but also of its own remarkable sculptural quality. The tense curves, fine modelling, and power of expression all mark this work out as a masterpiece of the rare statuary of the Murik people.