在新几内亚的洪堡湾沿岸发现了一个有趣的祖先像。 - 洪堡湾 - 西巴布亚 (没有保留价)

Humboldt Bay Ancestor Figure – Field Collected, 1990s

From the storied shores of Humboldt Bay, we present an arresting ancestor figure of rare presence and authenticity — field collected in situ during the 1990s.

Carved from a single piece of wood, this figure embodies the powerful sculptural language of the north coast of West Papua. The elongated torso, expressive head, and concentrated gaze speak of vigilance and spiritual authority. The surface shows a fine, natural patina developed through age, handling, and ritual environment — not an artificial finish, but the quiet testimony of time.

Such figures were not decorative objects. They were guardians of lineage, embodiments of ancestral force, and silent witnesses to ceremony and remembrance. The carving bears the hallmarks of village craftsmanship: direct, unembellished, yet deeply symbolic. Every incision has intent. Every proportion carries meaning.

Field-collected examples from this region have become increasingly scarce. Many early pieces were absorbed into major European collections decades ago, making later documented finds from the 1990s particularly desirable for collectors seeking authenticity with reliable provenance.

This is a figure that commands space.
It does not shout — it holds.

An exceptional opportunity for the serious collector of Oceanic art.

Provenance:
Field collected, Humboldt Bay region, West Papua, 1990s.
Material: Wood.
Condition: Fine, with age-related wear consistent with traditional use.

A powerful ancestral presence — ready to enter its next distinguished collection.
Condition: Very good, with minor wear consistent with age and use

We pack with care, sending all over the world for 35 years already

A must have for collectors, ethnographers, ethnologists, anthropologists and museums

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