h. 27,7 cm. mounted

Provenance: Loed van Bussel, Amsterdam 1992; By repute acquired from Fred Gerrits.

Sculptures like these are relatively rare and are stylistically attributable to the Sepik-Ramu delta. The current figure is depicted completely nude except for a hood. She wears a nose ornament, and twisted strands hanging from her ears. The depiction of a reclining child in her arms is noteworthy. The entire body is covered with red ochre, indicating that a supernatural being is represented. These figures are generally associated with initiation rites for women. They have the ability to foretell and divine the future, to ease a difficult pregnancy and determine the sex of unborn babies, as well as assist in love magic. (Howarth, C. 2015, Myth + Magic, p. 75) As far as we know, this is the only figure where the woman holds a child in her arms, not in a gesture of mother love, but that of presenting a child to the viewer. As such, she may represent the mythical female culture hero Jari, who transmitted knowledge about canoe construction, fire, cooked food, and healthy childbirth.