SEPIK SUSPENSION HOOK
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
African & Oceanic Art, Natural History and Ancient Art
Auction: 30 July 2025 from 14:00 BST
Description
carved wood, standing male figure with elongated torso and stylised facial features, arms bent at sides, hands resting on abdomen, crescent-shaped hook base, dark patina, surface wear and age cracks consistent with age and use, mounted on custom base
Dimensions
42.5cm tall
Provenance
Philip and Rosalind Goldman, London
Private collection, Belgium
Footnote
Sepik suspension hooks serve both practical and ceremonial purposes. Hung from rafters by a cord, they support baskets or string bags filled with food or belongings, keeping them out of reach of pests. Many are carved with images of ancestral spirits or animals linked to the owner's clan. Some depict powerful supernatural beings called waken and were used in ritual settings. Men would gather in the ceremonial house to make offerings and seek advice from these spirits. Offerings such as chickens or betel nut were hung from the hook and consumed by a medium, who entered a trance and spoke on behalf of the spirit. Everyday hooks were also used to consult spirits on more routine matters.