Korwar Ancestor Figure africanmasks A mesmerizing relic of early

A mesmerizing relic of early human artistry

Miniature vessels such as this were likely used to store and transport medicinal substances or other precious concoctions

underscoring the spiritual and cultural significance of textiles within their society

flexible cordage

representing power

Korwar Ancestor Figure africanmasks A mesmerizing relic of earlyKorwar area, late 19th century, Cenderawasih (Geelvink) Bay region, Indonesian province of Papua (Irian Jaya) This extraordinary and exceedingly rare korwar ancestral figure originates from the Korwar region in the Cenderawasih (Geelvink) Bay area of Papua, Indonesia. Carved from a single piece of wood, the statue represents a squatting human figure with a dramatically oversized head, which has been hollowed out to house an actual ancestor skulla