Iatmul Carved Food Hook from Papua New Guinea

Iatmul carved food hook, 'Samban', middle Sepik river Region, Papua New Guinea, early 20th century, wood with natural pigments and shells, carved as a male ancestor standing on a hook, height 50 cm. Provenance: Ex private collection new York, deaccessioned from the Connecticut Museum, Labels: Iatmul suspension hooks have both utilitarian and ceremonial functions. Suspended from the rafters by a cord, they are used to safeguard food, clothing, and other items, which are placed in baskets or string bags. Most hooks are adorned with representations of ancestral spirits and totemic animals associated with the owner's clan'. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Web, nd