This piece is mounted on a wooden base and measures 18.25" with the base and 16.5" the figure by itself.

This effigy depicts a spirit figure in the form of a bird-man. The figure is gracefully carved and very expressive in both it's facial expression and curvilinear body shape. The forms are rounded and naturalistic, but very stylized with sophisticated use of volumes and negative spaces. This figure has an old worn and encrusted patina that comes from long years of tribal use. There are large areas of encrustation and many of the higher areas have a smooth glossy patina from handling. The areas where the wood shows through the patina and is exposed, has darkened from oxidation.

This Sepik sculpture is in excellent condition, with no breaks or losses. It has a small hole drilled into the figure's right foot, where it is nicely mounted onto the wooden base in a way that makes the figure look like it is floating. This is a rare and early Sepik River region sculpture, in good condition, by a master wood carver, and is of museum quality.