This is a wooden Asmat ancestor carving depicting two individuals in sitting positions, one on top of the other. The entire piece is unpainted and is carved from very dark wood with visible vertical grain. There is a wedge at the bottom of the piece where it would have been plunged into mud to stand upright, which shows some signs of discoloration. Both figures are female, based on characteristic features around the chest and waist. They both sit in a position with legs bent outwards to either side, with elbows resting on their knees and hands splayed open. The thumbs of both figures’ hands are connected to the sides of their heads. The fingers of the bottom figure are connected to the feet of the top figure, and the top figure is seated atop the head of the bottom figure. There is some damage to the piece. The bottom figure is missing their left index finger, and the top figure is missing the bridge of their nose. There are carved lines across the bodies and limbs of both figures, indicating stylized musculature.
The figures in this carving are likely the ancestors or previous relatives of the individual who produced it. It was likely produced for an Asmat ancestral reverence practice, which are common in Asmat society. Most often, they are made for festivals which honor the dead or in the event of an individual dying. Because death in Asmat society is never natural, carvings of the deceased and their ancestors are produced to protect the deceased with spiritual energy until the death has been avenged. After events of this nature, carvings are often discarded in the rainforest so that the spirits which inhabit them may rejuvenate the sago trees.
Colors: Brown, Black