34" Sepik River Ancestral Guardian Totem | Yamok Village, Sawos, Papua New Guinea | Ron Perry Provenance

3363-007

Offered for sale is an impressive 34-inch ancestral guardian totem from the Middle Sepik River region of Papua New Guinea, acquired directly from the Ron Perry Arizona Room collection. Created by the Sawos people of Yamok Village, these ceremonial carvings function as powerful spiritual protectors of traditional dwellings and sacred longhouses, utilizing ancestral spirit power to shield the community from malicious entities and ensure prosperity. This large, powerful example is hand-carved from a single piece of indigenous hardwood and features a stylized female ancestor figure depicted in a crouching birthing position—a potent symbol of fertility, continuity, and village defense—decorated with traditional natural earth pigments.

The guardian totem was field-collected by Ron Perry, a globally renowned expert and one of the most respected Pacific tribal art authorities of the 20th century. Beginning his expeditions in 1964, Perry spent over 40 years traveling by canoe up remote waterways and trekking unmapped terrains to collect authentic pieces directly from traditional clans. His credibility in the field is unmatched: following Papua New Guinea's independence in 1975, the PNG National Cultural Council appointed him to manage Village Arts, their government-run indigenous artifact center. This is an outstanding display piece with excellent scale, striking concentric eye motifs, and authentic character, making it an exceptional addition to any collection of Oceanic, ethnographic, or tribal art.

Item Details:

• Object: Ancestral Guardian Totem

• Culture: Sawos

• Village: Yamok Village

• Region: Middle Sepik River, Papua New Guinea

• Period: Mid to Late 20th Century

• Dimensions: 34" H × 18" W × 2" D (86 × 46 × 5 cm)

• Materials: Indigenous hardwood and natural earth pigments (ochre, clay, charcoal)

• Provenance: Acquired directly from the Ron Perry Arizona Room collection

• Condition Note: This piece exhibits authentic, stable aging, beautiful native patination, and minor surface wear consistent with age and/or traditional use. Please review all photographs carefully, as they are an important part of the description.

This is available for local pick-up. Shipping can be available for this item. Please contact us for a custom quote or to make arrangements.