Early Indonesian Papua Canoe Prow w/ Korwar

Oceania, Indonesia, Papua Province, Cenderawasih Bay region, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A hand carved wooden canoe prow with openwork scrolling abstract motifs painted in red, blue, and white pigments with cassowary feathers attached to the top knob. While abstract and partially chipped and blemished, the top of the prow represents an ancestor figure known as a korwar, the feathers forming a the figure's hair. These korwar, translated as "soul of the dead" stand sentinel atop the prow, protecting the boat and passengers from harm. Mounted onto outrigger canoes with bamboo strips, these prows become integral to both function and symbolism. Size: 28" L x 5" W (71.1 cm x 12.7 cm); 22" H (55.9 cm) on included custom stand.

According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, "Created in the Cenderawasih Bay region of northwestern New Guinea, korwar represented individuals who had recently died. Each served as a supernatural container into which the spirit of the newly deceased ancestor could be called for consultation or the presentation of offerings. Korwar imagery was highly conventionalized, depicting the ancestor in a seated or standing position with the robust head and arrow-shaped nose that are the hallmarks of the style. Although the sex of the figures is often difficult to determine, all were originally male or female, depending on the gender of the deceased. Normally kept in the house of the deceased's family, korwar were also carried along on dangerous sea voyages to assure a successful outcome. Cenderawasih canoes had korwar heads incorporated into their prow and stern ornaments, and miniature korwar were carried as amulets. The pervasive presence of these ancestor images protected the living and emphasized the importance of ancestors in all aspects of everyday life."

The stylized forms of korwar are also noted for being an impetus to many Surrealist artists, who took inspiration from many forms of Oceanic art. Notably, Andre Breton (1896 to 1966), author of the "Surrealist Manifesto" (1924), possessed a korwar figure in his personal collection and even wrote a poem about it entitled "Korwar" that was included in his 1948 Oceanic Arts Exhibit catalogue.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection.

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#184715
Condition Report: Losses to the figure head under the feathers, chips and abrasions to wood. Loss to upper cut out edge near the figure. Fading to pigments. Good condition.