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Cult figure, C-14 dating: 1670–1900 (95.4% probability)
Wood, pigment
121.9 x 12.7 x 10.2 cm (48 x 5 x 4.5 in.)
The Marcia and John Friede Collection, a Promised Gift to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco L05.1.7
Artist Biography: (none)
PROVENANCE: "Tristan Tzara Collection, Paris." (Catalog #166, New Guinea Art: Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede, 2005, Volume 2, p. 109.)
EXHIBITIONS: 1930 - Galerie Pigalle, Paris, 1930, "Afrique Océanie."
PUBLICATIONS: 2005 - "This is a representation of the reptile child of Shotkaman-Agwi, the mythical Mother of the Sepik. (See pl. 150.) her crocodile child is said to have slithered to the sea, creating the sinuous course of the Sepik River. His mother is portrayed here as the small female figure on the back of the reptile. The birds represent the emergence of life at the begining of the world. This representation of the Sepik Mother is associated with another mythical being, Betman-Gambi, in an important Iatmul resurrection myth. The latter personage is the embodiment of the masculine principle: inventive, impulsive, aggressive, propagative. In the myth, he is described as a well-traveled trickster. When Shotkaman-Agwi encounters him, he is lying dead. She places herself on the corpse in order to restore him to life. As she does, her reptile child glides from her into the body of the dead man, and life returns to him. (See Rosenthal, 1968: 51.)
In the initiation ceremony for pubescent boys, the reptile figure was plunged into a circular cavity in a carving of Betman-Gambi. The meaning of this sexual reversal, a male figure being pierced by a phallic female image, has not been documented, but it must relate to the complex gender tension which underlies much Sepik mythology and art expression. I only know of one surviving Betman-Gambi figure, in Amsterdam's Tropenmuseum, which was collected by Paul Wirz. See Kaufmann in Kaeppler, Kaufmann, and Newton, 1997, fig. 227. More recent examples of the carved crocodile child, with or without his mother, are encrusted with shells and ornaments but lack the authority of this ancient object. For example, see Kaufmann, ibid., fig. 226." (Catalog #166, New Guinea Art: Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede, 2005, Volume 2, p. 109.)
1988 - Loudmer auction, Paris, Nov. 2, 1988, lot 160.
1951 - Rousseau, Apollinaire, and Tzara, 1951, fig. 168.
1930 - Galerie Pigalle, 1930, no. 321.
Related Keywords
figure Cult Francisco San Museums Arts Fine Gift Promised 109 p 2 Volume 2005 Friede John Marcia Jolika Masterpieces Art 166 Catalog Paris Tzara Tristan people Iatmul Oceania Province Sepik East Guinea New Papua Melanesia object Ritual pigment Wood 0709200406050444 A360922 L05.1.7 AOA
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