A CLAN EMBLEM IATMUL PEOPLES

PAPUA NEW GUINEA EAST SEPIK PROVENCE C.1950'S

A RARE, WONDERFUL AND EVOCATIVE CLAN EMBLEM IN THE FORM OF A CROCODILE WITH HUMAN HEAD OF WOOD CLAY, HAIR AND COWRY SHELLS REFERENCE: FINCH, 101, CAT No.10 SPRING 2007 "THE IATMUL LIVE ALONG THE MIDDLE SEPIK RIVER WHICH FLOWS THROUGH NORTHERN PAPUA NEW GUINEA AND ARE ORGANISED INTO LARGE VILLAGES THAT ARE STRUCTURED INTO TOTEMIC CLANS GROUPED AROUND THE CEREMONIAL DANCING GROUND WITH ITS MEN'S AND CULT HOUSES. NO OTHER NEW GUINEA PEOPLE HAVE MEN'S CEREMONIAL HOUSES THAT ARE SO LAVISHLY DECORATED WITH SCULPTED IMAGES. THE BUILDING ITSELF SYMBOLIZES THE ANCESTORS PROTECTIVE MANTLE WHICH SETTLED ON THE RIVER IN THE FORM OF A FLOATING GRASS ISLAND UNDER WHICH A CROCODILE, AN EMBODIMENT OF THE ANCESTORS, MAY LIE IN WAIT. FOR THE IATMUL THEIR SEMI-SWAMP, SEMI-DRY LAND ENVIRONMENT WAS MADE BY THE PRIMORDIAL ANCESTOR HIMSELF, WHO IN THE FORM OF A CROCODILE CREATED THE DRY LAND FROM HIS SALIVA AS HE BEAT THE SURROUNDING WATERS. THE IATMUL THEREFORE BELIEVE THAT THE VISABLE WORLD IS THE REPRESENTATION OF THE CREATION OF THEIR HEROIC ANCESTORS".

L. 24½" x D. 4" x W. 3¾"

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