COLLECTION NAME:
The AMICA Library
Record
AMICA ID:
MMA_.1978.412.823
AMICA Library Year:
2000
Object Type:
Sculpture
Creator Nationality:
Asian; Pacific; Melanesian; New Guinean; Papuan
Creator Name-CRT:
Kambot people
Title:
Figure from Ceremonial Housepost
View:
Full View
Creation Date:
19th-early 20th century
Creation Start Date:
1800
Creation End Date:
1933
Materials and Techniques:
Wood, paint, fiber
Dimensions:
H. 96 in. (243.8 cm)
AMICA Contributor:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Owner Location:
New York, New York, USA
ID Number:
1978.412.823
Credit Line:
The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Gift of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1969
Context:
The Kambot people live along the banks of the Keram River, a tributary of the lower Sepik River in New Guinea. This figure was not originally an independent sculpture but probably formed part of a housepost supporting the roof of a ceremonial house. The image represents either Mobul or Goyen, two mythical brothers who are associated with the creation of plants and animals. The brothers' spirits were believed to reside within the houseposts at certain times. This figure is probably the largest known work produced by the Kambot. The head is a double image in which the eyes and nose of the central face also form the arms and flute of a second, smaller figure.
Related Image Identifier Link:
MMA_.ao1978.412.823.R.tif
