Middle Ramu River Dancing Figure-Mert Simpson-Oceanic Art
Upper Keram/Middle Ramu River Dancing Female Figure
Upper Keram/Middle Ramu River area, border East Sepik and Madang Provinces, Papua New Guinea
Merton D. Simpson, New York
Edward H. Merrin Gallery, New York, acquired from above before 1963
Pre-contact, stone-carved, early 20th century or earlier, 29 ½” (74.9 cm) in height
As the Upper Keram River twists and turns to the southeast of the Lower Sepik River, it connects to the Middle Ramu River at Annaberg mission station. It is a very remote region. The present female figure has a face that is spare and concave, featuring stalk eyes, a raised nose with pierced septum, and no mouth. The arms reach up and grab an appendage coming from below the chin. There is lightness and movement to the female figure with her toes pointed down, the right leg pushed forward, and left reaching back. There is a dry softness to the surface consistent with pre-contact stone adzing.
Published in "OCEANIC ART: PROVENANCE AND HISTORY" edited by Michael Hamson, pages 120/121, item 20.