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Figure, Choangingge, C-14 dating: 1630–1810 (95.4% probability)
Wood, crusty pigment
114.3 x 20.3 x 19.1 cm (45 x 8 x 7 1/2 in.)
Gift of Marcia and John Friede in honor of Diane B. Wilsey and Harry S. Parker III 2007.44.61

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Artist Biography: (none) PROVENANCE: "Nils Madsen Collection, Ambunti, Papua New Guinea; George Kennedy Collection, Los Angeles." (Catalog #275, New Guinea Art: Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede, 2005, Volume 2, p. 127.) EXHIBITIONS: 2005 - New Guinea Art. Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede. De Young Museum, San Francisco, 2005. PUBLICATIONS: 2009 FAM Bulletin entry (unabridged) - "Along the Karawari River south of the central Sepik River area in the northern part of New Guinea, Ewa people kept an array of ancient wood sculptures that survived in substantial numbers. Of the present type representing the 'mother of the Tree kangaroo'- choangingge, this is the outstanding example. The Tree kangaroo (Dendrolagus sp.) and the Black cuscus are the dominant game in the higher levels of the rain forest. The soul (tite) of their spiritual mother is thought to help the hunters in finding the game at the appropriate time. Her wooden image was set up in a rock shelter in the hunting area. (1) It had been carved out of a tree trunk with a deep depression inside of the body where hunters probably deposited their offering for the mother's soul. The mother spirit would respond by attracting the souls of animals that the men wished to kill. In comparison to other similar 'mother of the tree kangaroo' figures (2) this figure is distinguishable for its notched top, its carefully carved face and its “beard”. (3) Abstracted representations of other mother figures were carved in various forms: the mother of the eel, the mother of birds, the double-headed mother of the soil, which was closely linked to the mother of the cassowary and the pig, aiding in specific hunting expeditions in the lower lying levels of the abounding rainforest that provided a variety of game for Ewa. These mother figures had their spiritual partners in the shape of male hunting aides (aripa) (4), represented by one-legged male figures in profile display and kept in the ceremonial houses. While the mother figures linked to specific species of game are said to have been normally kept in rock shelters in the hunting areas, the personal male hunting aides were, after the death of their owner, taken from the ceremonial house to the place in the hunting area where the memory of the deceased was kept alive by his relatives and descendents. (5) George C. Kennedy of Los Angeles who owned a significant large collection of Ewa sculptures collected this figure while on a mission in Wewak. (6) Kennedy purchased a large crate of objects once owned by the private collector Nils Madsen after the latter died with his wife in an airplane crash in the Sepik Hills. (7) This piece, along with many other spectacular Karawari sculptures, was in the crate. (8)" FOOTNOTES (1) Kaufmann, Christian, Korewori. Magic art from the rain forest, Basel, Museum der Kulturen and Belair, Crawford House 2003: 48-52,55-57, 64.- Anthony Meyer, Oceanic art = Ozeanische Kunst = Art océanien (Köln : Konemann, 1995), 294. (2) eg., Altman, 1967, fig. 136; Kaufmann, 2003, figs. 42, 43, 89, 106; Smidt, 1990, cat. No. 113. (3) John and Marcia Friede, New Guinea Art: Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede, exh. cat. (Milan: 5 Continents Editions, 2005), 127. (4) See figure 269 in Friedes, New Guinea Art, 125. (5) Kaufmann, Korewori, 25. (6) Dirk Smidt, The Seized Collections of the Papua New Guinea, exh. cat. (N.p.: Creative Arts Centre, Papua New Guinea, 1972), 65. (7) Friedes, New Guinea Art, 127. (8) ibid, 127. 2005 - "This is an example of the altar-like 'Mother of the Tree Kangaroo,' choa'ngingge. Only a handful of this type of carving is known to exist (e.g., Altman, 1967, fig. 136; Kaufmann, 2003, fig. 42; Smidt, 1990, cat. no. 113). In comparison to all the published examples, this half-figure distinguishes itself by its serrated crest and 'beard.' The tree kangaroo (Dendrolagus) was the principal big game of the Ewa. The 'Mothers' were 'placed in rock shelters in the middle of the hunting ground' (Kaeppler, Kaufmann, and Newton, 1997: 584). Sometimes male aripa figures accompanied them. 'Hunters deposited their offerings for the Mother's soul, who would respond in kind by attracting the souls of animals...before men had even left the men's house to search for game' (ibid. See also Smidt, 1990, cat. 113). From a mission in Wewak, George C. Kennedy purchased, sight unseen, a huge crate of Madsen objects after the latter died with his wife in an airplane crash in the Sepik hills. This, and many other fine sculptures, was in the crate." (Catalog #275, New Guinea Art: Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede, 2005, Volume 2, p. 127.) 1995 - Meyer, 1995, fig. 264.

Related Keywords
Choangingge III Parker S Harry Wilsey B Diane honor Gift 127 p 2 Volume 2005 Friede John Marcia Jolika Masterpieces Art 275 Catalog Angeles Los Kennedy George Papua Ambunti Madsen Nils people Ewa Oceania Province Sepik East Guinea New Sculpture pigment crusty beard face carefully top notched distinguishable figure This kangaroo' Tree 'mother Represents wood Carved 0709200406050487 A361108 2007.44.61 AOA