Sepik ceremonial spear, Papua New Guinea, 20th century.

Sepik ceremonial spear, Papua New Guinea, 20th century.
Wood, vegetable fibers, rattan and woven.
Provenance: Former Belgian private collection.
Measurements: 246 cm (height).
Ceremonial spear made of wood and vegetable fibers. The Sepik River and its surroundings is one of the most important art producing regions in the world. The variety and styles are reflected in their weapons and artistic representations.
Collected for a long time by explorers and soldiers as trophies or objects of curiosity, the weapons are, in addition to their initial use as combat tools, true works of art that were meant to impress the adversary, either by their brilliance or their shape. They have also been used for other purposes, such as coins, parades, initiation and symbols of power.