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Suspension hook, 19th century or earlier
Wood, pigment
53 1/8 x 11 7/16 x 1 15/16 in.
Museum purchase, Mrs. Paul L. Wattis Fund 2000.172.2

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Artist Biography: (none) PROVENANCE: "Arthur Speyer Collection, Eltville, Germany; Ernst Heinrich Collection, Bad Canstadt, Stuttgart." (Catalog #151, New Guinea Art: Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede, 2005, Volume 2, p. 106.) EXHIBITIONS: 1985-88 - Tribal Art Centre, Basel, 1985-88, "Art of the Sepik River." PUBLICATIONS: 2005 - "In general, these ceremonial suspension hooks refer to the 'clan-specific mythology of the owner' of the object (Kocher Schmid in Greub, 1985: 191). This figure may represent Shotkaman-Agwi at the moment she is giving birth to her crocodile or snake child. (See previous entry [Friede catalog #150].) Cult hooks were diplayed in the recesses of the ceremonial house and had both a ceremonial and a utilitarian function. They were adorned with shell valuables and other important heirlooms. For further information on the function of suspension hooks and the role of the spirits represented, see Kocher Schmid in Greub, 1985: 191-92, and Smidt, 1990: 254, 262-70 (both summary descriptions), and Schefold, 1966 for a stylistic analysis of many different types of middle Sepik suspension hooks." (Catalog #151, New Guinea Art: Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede, 2005, Volume 2, p. 106.) 1985 - Greub, 1985, cat. 86.

Related Keywords
Suspension Fund Wattis L Paul Mrs purchase Museum 106 p 2 Volume 2005 Friede John Marcia Jolika Masterpieces Art 151 Catalog Stuttgart Canstadt Bad Heinrich Ernst Germany Eltville Speyer Arthur subgroup Woliagwi people Iatmul village Kanganaman Oceania Province Sepik East Guinea New Papua Melanesia Object Ritual pigment Wood 1900 1890 collected Figure Female Bird form Hook 1124200309050022 A355926 2000.172.2 AOA