Fragment of a Male Figure

Culture: Inyai-Ewa artist
Date: possibly 18th to 20th century
Material: Wood, mud, and red ochre
from: East Sepik province, Papua New Guinea, Oceania
Classification: Sculpture, wood
Collection: Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Current Location: Not on view
Dimensions: 30 7/8 x 3 3/8 in. (78.5 x 8.5 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Morton D. May
Rights: Public Domain
Object Number: 24:1977

NOTES

Many of the pieces found in the Korewori caves were fragments of previously complete figures. This piece, with its two legs and top section looking like a bird’s head, is actually the lower part of a male figure. Male figures found in the caves seem to have been viewed from the front with their arms up, whereas female figures were more often shown in profile. The “bird’s head” originally formed the chest and navel of this figure. The red ochre and mud covering this figure indicate that it was probably handled more recently than some of the other figures found in the Korewori caves. Perhaps it was used in some kind of ritual process, or maybe it was covered in red ochre for modern decorative purposes.

Provenance

- 1972
Roberta M. Nochimson Associates, New York, NY, USA

1972 - 1977
Morton D. May (1914-1983), St. Louis, MO, purchased from Roberta M. Nochimson Associates [1]

1977 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Morton D. May [2]

Notes:
[1] An invoice dated May 20, 1972 from Roberta M. Nochimson Associates to Morton D. May documents the purchase of this object, listed as "167 B Figure, Caves of the Korewari" [May Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum].

[2] A letter dated March 1, 1977 from Morton D. May to James N. Wood, director of the Saint Louis Art Museum, includes the offer of this object as part of a larger donation [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Acquisitions Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, April 14, 1977.

We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.