Old prow of a crocodile-headed canoe, Papua New Guinea, Middle Sepik, Second half of the 20th century

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Ancienne proue de pirogue à tête de crocodile, Papouasie Nouvelle-Guinée, Moyen Sepik, Seconde moitié du XXème siècle 2

Description

Origin: Papua New Guinea
Cultural area: Middle Sepik
Material: Dense wood
Dimensions: 52 x 16.5 cm
Condition: Beautiful shiny patina, tiny accidents without impact
Provenance: Former private collection

Old canoe prow with shiny dark patina. It represents a crocodile's head with visible teeth and open eyes. The tip is characterized by a second stylized saurian se
ending with a bird's head with a curved beak pierced in its center thus serving as an anchoring point for the canoe.

In the Middle Sepik area, canoe prows are frequently represented by an animal bestiary representing birds and crocodiles. One of the Papuan myths says that the world was born from
beat
of the tail of a giant crocodile, its upper jaw symbolizing the sky, the lower jaw the earth. Thus, the peoples of Sepik live in the mouth of the saurian.

This description has been translated automatically. please click here Click here to display the original language FR

Related items: Sepik New Guinea

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Old prow of a crocodile-headed canoe, Papua New Guinea, Middle Sepik, Second half of the 20th century

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