40" Blackwater River Ancestral Food Suspension Hook | Iatmul, Papua New Guinea | Ron Perry Provenance

3363-011

Offered for sale is an impressive 40-inch ancestral food suspension hook from the Blackwater River region (a major tributary of the Middle Sepik River) of Papua New Guinea, acquired directly from the Ron Perry Arizona Room collection. Known traditionally as a Samban hook, these functional and ceremonial carvings were created by the Iatmul people to hang food baskets and sacred bundles, utilizing ancestral spirit power to protect provisions from pests and malicious spirits. This large, powerful example is hand-carved from a single piece of indigenous hardwood and features a stylized male ancestor figure merging into multi-tiered concentric crescent hooks, decorated with natural earth pigments and woven plant fiber accents.

The hook 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, including the Blackwater River up to Kuvenmas Village, 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 geometric eye motifs, and authentic character, making it an exceptional addition to any collection of Oceanic, ethnographic, or tribal art.

Item Details:

Object: Ancestral Food Suspension Hook (Samban)

Culture: Iatmul

Region: Blackwater River Region

Period: Mid to Late 20th Century

Dimensions: 40" H × 7" W × 2.5" D (101.6 × 17.8 × 6.3 cm)

Materials: Indigenous hardwood, natural earth pigments (ochre, clay, charcoal), and woven plant fiber bast

Provenance: Acquired directly from the Ron Perry Arizona Room collection

Condition Note: This piece exhibits authentic, stable aging, beautiful native patination, and minor fiber 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.