Hunstein Mountain Garra Hook-New Guinea Oceanic Tribal Art
Hunstein Mountain Garra Hook
Bahinemo culture, Hunstein Mountain Range, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea
New York private collection
Early 20th century
50 ½” (128.2 cm) in height
With an art tradition defined by raw archaic power, one judges its value by these qualities. Yes, there is elegance and occasionally refinement sometimes found in Hunstein Mountain material, but the core is a primeval vitality expressed in rough-hewn opposed hooks. What drew me to this piece initially was the stretched-out spine with broad tabs on each end and the elliptical eye in the center. The figure is pure with a total absence of decadence.
Published in "OCEANIC ART: PROVENANCE AND HISTORY" edited by Michael Hamson, pages 122/123, item 21.