Tomkins Collection

Figure

TC 399
Provenance: Christopher and Anna Thorpe, Sydney 2007 Frank Bottaro, Melbourne Alex Philips, Melbourne By descent, Mark Lissauer, Melbourne Collected by H.M. Lissauer c1964
Dimensions: 52 in. (132.1 cm)
Ethnic Group:

Sawos artists made free standing figures that were kept in ceremonial houses. They represented “mythological heros who were celebrated as great men.” Appeals were made to the personage via the figure to assist during conflict and hunting.  The marks on the torso of the figure represent scarification that was made during the initiation of men. (Newton 1987: 27)

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