Korwar charm yapen Island - Ansus village - West Papua (No Reserve Price)
07
days
19
hours
46
minutes
37
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
No reserve price
Expert
Selected by Amy Wassing
Nearly 20 years' experience in Indonesian and Oceanian art with museum expertise.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
No bids placed
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 122028 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Description from the seller
Elegant Old Korwar Charm – North Coast of New Guinea
Circa 1950s | Collected by a Dutch Businessman
A beautifully carved korwar charm, created in the 1950s and collected shortly after by a Dutch businessman active in the region. Small in scale yet powerful in presence, this piece exemplifies the intimate, protective nature of personal korwar figures.
Carved from a single piece of hardwood, the charm shows the classic korwar features:
– a high, forward-curving forehead
– deep, contemplative eye sockets
– a finely shaped nose
– and a compact, almost meditative posture.
Its surface bears a soft, naturally aged patina—a warm, matte sheen created by decades of handling, skin oils, and exposure to the tropical climate. Subtle traces of old pigments remain in the deeper incisions, suggesting ritual use or personal significance for the original owner.
Korwar charms served as portable guardians, linking the living with ancestral spirits who offered protection, insight, and guidance. These smaller personal versions rarely survive with such integrity and authenticity.
Provenance:
Collected in the 1950s by a Dutch businessman who traveled widely in New Guinea, later part of a private European collection.
Condition:
Excellent for its age. No restorations; minor wear consistent with field use and handling.
A refined, elegant korwar charm with true age, strong character, and credible early provenance—an exceptional addition for collectors of Pacific art and spiritual objects.
Packed with care
Sending worldwide
Sold by Koos Knol, ethnographer and anthropologist, dealer of Papua Tribal Art for more than 30 years, expert and author of the book “Papua Blues”, written in Dutch. (Maybe in English next year.) Published end of October 2024
A book about inside stories, a book that deals with the many encounters with special people in West Papua, the impressive experiences that the author has, about special encounters with men and women who tell him about secret things, about ethnographic objects and initiate him into the rituals and ceremonies.
A must have for collectors, ethnographers, ethnologists, anthropologists and museums
Google:Papua Blues Koos Knol
Seller's Story
my wife Paula van den Berg and I, Koos Tuber, both anthropologists, traveling a lot through Papua New Guinea and West Papua (formerly Irian Jaya), Solomon Islands and Vanuatu (formerly New Hebrides). We love local tribal arts, we collected thousands and thousands of artifacts, all authentic, sometimes old, sometimes more recently but mainly used objects in local traditional cultures. We are happy to give more detailed information about the artifacts we sell here on Catawiki. Please feel free to contact us.
Translated by Google TranslateElegant Old Korwar Charm – North Coast of New Guinea
Circa 1950s | Collected by a Dutch Businessman
A beautifully carved korwar charm, created in the 1950s and collected shortly after by a Dutch businessman active in the region. Small in scale yet powerful in presence, this piece exemplifies the intimate, protective nature of personal korwar figures.
Carved from a single piece of hardwood, the charm shows the classic korwar features:
– a high, forward-curving forehead
– deep, contemplative eye sockets
– a finely shaped nose
– and a compact, almost meditative posture.
Its surface bears a soft, naturally aged patina—a warm, matte sheen created by decades of handling, skin oils, and exposure to the tropical climate. Subtle traces of old pigments remain in the deeper incisions, suggesting ritual use or personal significance for the original owner.
Korwar charms served as portable guardians, linking the living with ancestral spirits who offered protection, insight, and guidance. These smaller personal versions rarely survive with such integrity and authenticity.
Provenance:
Collected in the 1950s by a Dutch businessman who traveled widely in New Guinea, later part of a private European collection.
Condition:
Excellent for its age. No restorations; minor wear consistent with field use and handling.
A refined, elegant korwar charm with true age, strong character, and credible early provenance—an exceptional addition for collectors of Pacific art and spiritual objects.
Packed with care
Sending worldwide
Sold by Koos Knol, ethnographer and anthropologist, dealer of Papua Tribal Art for more than 30 years, expert and author of the book “Papua Blues”, written in Dutch. (Maybe in English next year.) Published end of October 2024
A book about inside stories, a book that deals with the many encounters with special people in West Papua, the impressive experiences that the author has, about special encounters with men and women who tell him about secret things, about ethnographic objects and initiate him into the rituals and ceremonies.
A must have for collectors, ethnographers, ethnologists, anthropologists and museums
Google:Papua Blues Koos Knol
Seller's Story
my wife Paula van den Berg and I, Koos Tuber, both anthropologists, traveling a lot through Papua New Guinea and West Papua (formerly Irian Jaya), Solomon Islands and Vanuatu (formerly New Hebrides). We love local tribal arts, we collected thousands and thousands of artifacts, all authentic, sometimes old, sometimes more recently but mainly used objects in local traditional cultures. We are happy to give more detailed information about the artifacts we sell here on Catawiki. Please feel free to contact us.
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
No. of items
1
Ethnic group/ culture
Ansus village
Country of Origin
West Papua
Period
Mid 20th century
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Excellent condition
Title of artwork
Korwar charm yapen Island
Height
15 cm
Width
1.5 cm
Depth
1.5 cm
Provenance
Private collection
Disclaimer
Disclaimer: Decorative and Martial Arts Use Only This item is offered for auction with the understanding that it is intended exclusively for decorative purposes or martial arts practice. By participating in this auction, you agree to: Comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies. Ensure that your use of this item is consistent with the stated purposes. Please note that this item has not been inspected by Catawiki for safety or functionality. Catawiki does not condone illegal activities and is not responsible for any damage or injury resulting from the use or misuse of this item.
Disclaimer: Decorative and Martial Arts Use Only This item is offered for auction with the understanding that it is intended exclusively for decorative purposes or martial arts practice. By participating in this auction, you agree to: Comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies. Ensure that your use of this item is consistent with the stated purposes. Please note that this item has not been inspected by Catawiki for safety or functionality. Catawiki does not condone illegal activities and is not responsible for any damage or injury resulting from the use or misuse of this item.
