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• Auction House:
  Theodore Bruce
• Sale Name:
  Timed Online Auction | The Todd Barlin Collection of Oceanic and Asian Art | Day II
• Sale Date:
  09 Aug 2022 ~ 6pm (AEST)
• Lot #:
  9334
• Lot Description:
  A Rare Mythological Snake/Crocodile Figure, Middle Sepik River Area, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea
  beautifully carved from a single piece of hardwood and decorated with cowrie shell eyes.
  H 122 cm
• Provenance:
  The Todd Barlin Collection of Oceanic Art
• Notes:
  It is unclear the exact mythology expressed in this rare artwork, Snakes as a creator being our part of some Sepik River groups mythologies. According to Borut Telban in "Dancing through time" 1998 Oxford" People say that the village has the shape of the huge snake which lies beneath it. This wakin (snake) is the essence of the village; it is its protector. The snake has to be firmly pressed down by all ancestral female spirits, who are represented on round masks on men's houses. This snake can ësee' what the people do. Men refer to this snake only in the men's houses. Its real name means ëstrong' and it is the most awesome secret which is seldom whispered even in the men's house."
• Estimate:
  A$600 - 800
• Realised Price:
  $0.00
• Category:
  Tribal

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.