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Figure for a sacred flute, wusear
East Sepik Province
19th/20th century
Wood, rattan, fiber
H. 64 cm
TC 330

Pairs of sacred flutes were played for ceremonial events and figural stoppers, such as this one, were inserted into the end of the flute when it was not being used. The figures are said to represent asin, the children of the mother crocodile spirit. "The flutes were kept in the homes of important men, who organized the initiation ceremonies for the boys and girls belonging to their family group." (Smidt in Van Damme 1990: 245-246) "The enlarged head may reflect the Biwat belief that the head is the most sacred part of the body." (Pelrine 1996:129)

Provenance:
Anthony Meyer, Paris, 2005
Private collection, Paris
Musée de l"Homme, Paris (D.39.3.523)
Collected on the La Korrigane Expedition, 1934-36

The La Korrigane Expedition visited the island of New Guinea for one month September 21-October 20, 1935. (Coiffier 2001:74-75)
"Purchased by Comte & Comtesse de Ganay, Charles and Régine van den Broek, and Jean Ratisbonne from the Burns & Philip shipping company headquarters in Rabaul New Britain, August 1935. The original expedition collection number (1130) appears on the Musée de l"Homme deposit inventory card. Subsequently removed by Mme. de Ganay from the Musée in 1961." (Meyer 2005)