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Details
- Other Title
- Male ancestor figure (surmounted by two birds)
- Place where the work was made
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Maprik District
→
East Sepik Province
→
Papua New Guinea
- Cultural origin
- Abelam people
- Date
- early 1900-mid 20th century
- Media categories
- Ceremonial object , Sculpture
- Materials used
- wood, clay, natural earth pigments
- Dimensions
- 146.0 x 31.0 x 23.0 cm
- Credit
- Purchased 1965
- Location
- Not on display
- Accession number
- 396.1994
- Copyright
- Artist information
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Abelam people
Works in the collection
- Share
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About
According to Dr Fred Gerrits, who collaborated with villagers to document Abelam cultural history during the 1970s, this 'urungwall' (sacred figure) would have been used exclusively as a resonator during Tambaran cult (initiation) rituals. Kept hidden from women and uninitiated men in the 'sakindungai' (secret area) within the 'korombo' (ceremonial house), 'urungwall' were ‘sounded’ upon arrival, daily during their stay, and again at the departure of the 'ngwallndu' spirits. 'Gwangi' (long bamboo trumpets) were placed into the upper end of the 'urungwall' and blown, with the sound reverberating in the hollow cylinder. 'Urungwall' are considered to be extremely sacred. They were made by and belonged to one person, but they were also used by the whole community.
This 'urungwall' has the face of a 'waiwu' (human) with a long nose, a feature considered beautiful in Abelam society.
[entry from Exhibition Guide for 'Melanesian art: redux', 2018, cat no 23]
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Exhibition history
Shown in 2 exhibitions
Aboriginal and Melanesian art, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 19 Oct 1974 -
Melanesian art: redux, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 17 Nov 2018–17 Feb 2019
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Bibliography
Referenced in 2 publications
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Tony Tuckson, Aboriginal and Melanesian art, Sydney, 1973, 46. cat.no. 95; 'Ancestor figure, male, surmounted by two birds. Abelam. Wood, painted. 147 h. Rep: Quarterly, April 1972. Collected 1965'
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Editor Unknown (Editor), Art Gallery of New South Wales Quarterly, Sydney, Apr 1972, illus..
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