Iatmul Carved Food Hook, ‘Samban’

wood with natural pigments and shells, carved as a male ancestor standing on a hook

Measurements:

height 50 cm

Provenance:

Ex Private Collection New York, deaccessioned from the Connecticut Museum

Labels:

Iatmul suspension hooks have both utilitarian and ceremonial functions. Suspended from the rafters by a cord, they are used to safeguard food, clothing, and other items, which are placed in baskets or string bags. Most hooks are adorned with representations of ancestral spirits and totemic animals associated with the owner's clan'. Metropolitan Museum of Art, WEB, nd

• EStimate $1,500 - $2,500
• sold $1,920 Incl BP