Korwar Ancestor Figure

Korwar area, 19th century, Cenderawasih (Geelvink) Bay region, Indonesian province of Papua (Irian Jaya)

Exceptional and very rare ancestral korwar figure, carved from a single piece of hardwood and presenting a standing human figure on an oval base. The sculpture features a symbolically oversized head, hollowed to house a real partial ancestor skull. The face is finely balanced, with a strong pointed nose with flaring nostrils, almond-shaped eyes beneath arched brows, and a distinctive prognathic chin with the mouth rendered as two parallel incised lines. The surface shows a beautiful light grey weathered patina, with deep erosion consistent with great age and exposure.

Korwar figures represent revered ancestor spirits—beings approached with both devotion and caution. Many korwar hold a shield beneath the chin, decorated with repeated spiral, scroll, and S-curve motifs. While its precise meaning is uncertain, the shield is often interpreted as a stylized snake, an important symbol of renewal and regeneration in the spiritual traditions of the Cenderawasih Bay peoples.

Korwar were carved by shamanic specialists (mon) following the death and funerary rites of an esteemed individual. Only select persons—clan heads, leaders, or notable figures—were immortalized in this way. These sculptures served as vessels for the ancestor’s spirit and were consulted for guidance during major life events, including births, marriages, and deaths. They were believed to offer supernatural protection, heal illness, and even render warriors invisible. Korwar accompanied dangerous sea voyages, appearing also on canoe prows and sterns, while miniature versions were worn as protective amulets. Within the home, they were kept with reverence and offered tobacco and other desirable items.

From the late 1880s onward, many korwar were destroyed under the influence of Protestant missionaries, while others were sent to Dutch museums. The integration of actual skulls into the sculptures was prohibited by the Dutch administration in Biak in the early 1900s, and the tradition rapidly declined, with no new korwar carved thereafter.

This example—collected in the early 20th century complete with its ancestor skull—is one of two obtained at that time by a Dutch government official, and stands as a rare surviving testament to one of the most striking spiritual traditions of the Cenderawasih Bay region.

Good condition. Wear commensurate with age and use. Cracks, chips, fractures, and old wormholes. Wonderful, authentic patina throughout. Size approx. 63,0cm x 20,5cm x 20,0cm. 

Provenance: From a Dutch private collection; reportedly originally from the holdings of a now-closed ethnographic museum and foundation in the Netherlands.

References and further reading:

Raja Ampat Ritual Art: Spirit Priests and Ancestor Cults in New Guinea’s Far West, Raymond Corbey, Leiden: C. Zwartenkot Art Books, 2017.

Knowing Korwar: Ancestor Figures from Cenderawasih Bay, Bowers Museum, Collection Blog, Thursday, 25 August 2022. (https://www.bowers.org/index.php/collection/collection-blog/korwar-figure-from-cenderawasih-bay)

Borneo and Beyond: Tribal Arts of Indonesia, East Malaysia and Madagascar, Michael Heppell & Robyn Maxwell, Published by Bareo Gallery, 1990.