Yipwon Hunting Charm
Origin: New Guinea, Korewori River
Dimensions: 12.25 in (31 cm) H
Materials: Wood
Collected 1968 by
Donald Carl Dunham, NY
Ex. Bruce Frank Primitive Art
Kept within the men's ceremonial house, the distinctive hook figures (yipwon) of the Yimam people of the Korewori River region in northeast New Guinea formerly played a central role in hunting and warfare. Depicting powerful spirits, the images served as vessels into which the spirits were called before a hunt or raid and presented with offerings. The yipwon then went forth during the night to slay the souls of the game or human enemies, enabling the men to easily kill the actual animals or enemies the following day. If a yipwon was successful, the men showed their gratitude by offering it a portion of the game or smearing it with the victims' blood. If it failed, the figure was neglected or discarded.
During the primordial creation period, the sun, who formerly lived on earth, first carved a slit gong (a large musical instrument). As he did so, the chips of wood from the slit gong came to life as yipwon spirits, who lived with him in the men's ceremonial house. One day, when the sun was away, the spirits killed one of his male relatives and danced around his body. Hearing the noise, the sun's mother, the moon, turned around and saw what the yipwon had done. Terrified at being caught, the yipwon fled into the ceremonial house, where they stretched themselves out against the back wall, turning into wood images. Enraged by their act, the sun ascended into the sky, leaving the yipwon on earth to serve as patron spirits of hunting and warfare.
Citation
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.
