A TIMBUWARA RITUAL SPIRIT FIGURE

Provenance: Private Dutch collection

Spirit cults of various types, generally associated with fertility and the wellbeing of humans, permeated the New Guinea Highlands in pre-contact times. The Wiru of the southern highlands region made flat woven figures called ‘timbu wara’ as part of the ‘timbu’ cult. By the mid 1960s the ‘timbu’ cult had all but disappeared.

Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea
Woven rattan, vegetable fiber and natural pigments, 91 x 58 cm

Price: € 1.250,-