1 / 6
Photo 1/6 du lotPhoto 2/6 du lotPhoto 3/6 du lotPhoto 4/6 du lotPhoto 5/6 du lotPhoto 6/6 du lot
Hôtel des Ventes de Troyes

17 - - Amulet - Sepik river - Papua New Guinea - France Provenanc…
See original version (French)

Estimate €200 - €300
Sale commission
Description
- Amulet - Sepik river - Papua New Guinea - France Provenance: Former Guy Seghers collection (Belgium). Collected in Papua New Guinea between 1970 and 1980 during scientific missions linked to the Leopold III Biological Station on Laing Island. Archives and period photographs preserved. The work is recorded in a field notebook under reference A.99 (4), dated 1978, with the words: "Figurine, Keram, Madang Culture". Materials: Wood Dimensions: H. 12 cm. Small carved anthropomorphic figure representing an ancestral or spiritual being. The figure is depicted standing, arms at his sides, with a disproportionately large head and a highly stylised face: half-closed almond-shaped eyes, protruding nose, discreetly outlined mouth and small top bun. The robust legs and compact silhouette reinforce the expressive presence of the sculpture, despite its small size. This work is part of the tradition of small protective figures from the Sepik-Ramu basin, a vast region recognised as one of Papua New Guinea's greatest centres of artistic creation. Amulets of this type were often associated with personal protection, magical practices or relationships with ancestors and tutelary spirits. Kept in personal bags or passed on as objects of prestige, they carried a great deal of symbolic power despite their modest size. The sculpture shows a fine economy of means: the volumes are reduced to the essential, while the expression of the face and the tension of the proportions give the whole a remarkable intensity. The surface shows an ancient patina and traces of use compatible with prolonged conservation in a ritual or domestic context. - Statuette
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale ARTS OF AFRICA & OCEANIA: Three exceptional family collections
Auction location
Auction time 06/22/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
You may also like