Galerie Meyer Oceanic Art Yipwon

Details

Description

A superb small yipwon, or hook-figure, which was carried and used as an amulet, or charm, during hunting or warfare. The yipwon generally represent great spirits that are specifically related to hunting and warfare and come in sizes ranging from monstrous examples of over two hundred and fifty centimeters to minute examples such as the present one. The large yipwon are main entities in the local pantheon and belong to the tribe as a group where as the smaller examples were privately owned by individuals and used as such. The majority of the small private yipwon amulets are reductions of the larger versions incorporating the multiple hooks and the flexed single leg. The present example is of a rare type without the flexed leg. It is a self-contained yipwon, retained and encapsulated in the loop of the carved frame ? reminiscent of the uterus and fetus. Yimar People, Upper Korowori River, Middle Sepik River, New Guinea, Melanesia. Wood with a fine patina of age and usage. 18.2 cm. 19/20th century. Probably acquired from Hof in the very early 1960's. Ex coll. : Joop M. Felius, Delft; then Mr. & Mrs. Dinhofer, New York (acquired from Felius on 10/10/1965). The shell eyes that can be seen in the photograph of the yipwon in the Dinhofer home are later additions and have now been removed by Galerie Meyer to restore the amulet to its original condition.

Features

• Country : FRANCE