Lot 119, Auction 4/3/2026: Papua New Guinea Yimam Yipwon Spirit Figure – Korewori

$585.00

In stock

Papua New Guinea, Korewori River region, Yimam peoples, ca. 20th century CE. A striking embodiment of myth made timber, this Yimam yipwon spirit figure stands as both skeleton and story, its angular form alive with the memory of sun, blood, and war. Carved from a single piece of wood, the figure displays the essential characteristics of yipwon sculptures from the Korewori River region. The head is disproportionately large and faceted, with a circular eye and sharply projecting beak-like nose that lend the face an alert, almost predatory presence. Below, the body narrows into a rib-like framework of opposing curved elements that encircle the central void often described as the “heart.” These sweeping forms create both negative space and tension, giving the figure a skeletal dynamism that feels poised between motion and stillness. Size: 2.5″ W x 21″ H (6.4 cm x 53.3 cm)

True to type, the figure stands on a single foot, the lower limb bent and angular, as though braced for sudden movement. The elongated, attenuated body reinforces its otherworldly identity. Surface wear and a pale, weathered patina emphasize its age and ritual handling, while the carved planes catch light in a way that heightens its dramatic silhouette.

According to Yimam mythology, the first yipwon spirits emerged when the spirit of the Sun carved the inaugural slit gong during his time on earth. The discarded wood fragments sprang to life as beings called yipwon. In time, these spirits killed one of the Sun’s male relatives and drank his blood. In fury, the Sun ascended permanently into the sky, condemning the yipwon to remain on Earth. The spirits stretched themselves against the walls of the men’s house and transformed into wood, becoming embodiments of warfare and hunting.

Yipwon sculptures functioned as potent spirit allies. Large examples were owned collectively by clans and kept within ceremonial houses, while smaller figures were individually owned and carried in woven bags to secure success in battle and in the hunt. The present example, with its pronounced ribs and commanding head, reflects the aesthetic and spiritual intensity associated with these figures. At once skeletal and monumental, abstract yet deeply narrative, this Yimam yipwon preserves in carved wood a cosmology of creation, transgression, and enduring spiritual force.

Condition: Heavy weathering with fissures, chipping, and splintering in areas. Metal suspension hooks applied to verso for display.

Provenance: private Manchester, Missouri, USA collection, acquired prior to 2000

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