Carved wood ochre and black pigments

Museum inventory mark under the right buttock (71.10.460)

Presumed date of manufacture: late 19th – early 20th century

Watam village area. Mouth of the Sepik River

Papua New Guinea

Provenance:

Collected by Father Georg Höltker between 1937 and 1939

University of Friburg until 1962

Sankt Augustin, Steyler Missionare, Museum Haus Völker und Kulturen, Germany

(Inventory 71.10. 460)

Ulrich Hoffmann Collection, Germany

Serge Schoffel Collection, Brussels

Kevin Conru Collection, Brussels

Professor Mark. T. Groudine, Seattle, USA

Among the very small number of ancient bero kandimbong statues on the art market, the one collected by Father Georg Höltker is one of the most remarkable examples of the styles developed in the region around the mouth of the Sepik.

It stands out for its large size, the quality of its carving and its perfect state of preservation.

the complete study of this very rare piece is available upon request