A beautiful old female anthropomorphic statue, probably part of an architectural decorative element, this type of statue is said to represent the spirit of the ancestors, ngwaalndu (Coupaye in Peltier, Ombres des Nouvelle Guinée, Arts de la grande île d'Océanie dans les Collections Barbier-Mueller, 2006, no. 20). The figure adopts the classic position of Abelam statuary: standing on bent legs, with a rounded torso and narrow shoulders projecting forward, his hands resting on either side of his abdomen, his long face marked by a characteristic stretched nose. Abelam, Maprik Mountains, Papua New Guinea Wood, visible cracks, very fine old oxidation and patina. Height: 76cm Provenance: Jean-Michel Huguenin Jean-Michel Huguenin and Pierre Langlois, Paris Robert Saintgery Collection, Paris Passed on by descent