Anthropomorphic and zoomorphic statue (obverse/verse), Papua New Guinea. On a truncated conical base, the obverse shows a grimacing anthropomorphic face. The canines are exaggerated like fangs, and the nose and eyes are surrounded by a low-relief frieze of coffee beans (probably cowries). The nose extends and descends into a sort of rounded, pierced beak, suggesting a phallic idea, common in Sepik statuary. A central ridge divides the top of the face and emphasises the line of the nose. The eyes are exaggerated as pointed cones protruding from the sockets. They vaguely evoke a geometrised female breast, suggesting a certain hermaphroditism in the figure represented. The top of the forehead is decorated with a disc surrounded on either side by arcs of decreasing size. These bas-relief decorations may represent a head ornament (often made of assembled cowries). On the reverse, a full-length bat is depicted, its scowling face showing its teeth and its wings partially outstretched, like crossed arms. The veins of the wings are emphasised by the bas-relief sculpture. The bat depicted is probably a fruit bat, a highly symbolic animal linked to local religious beliefs about fertility, human procreation and food. Bats are seen as intercessors between the human world and the spirit world, and even as protective spirits for the living and the dead. Bats are a common motif in the iconographic repertoire of the Sepik peoples, including the Iatmul, who produced this statue. In this respect, the anthropomorphic figure could be a representation of the Iatmul cult hero, Moïem, identified as a bat. The crusty patina covering the statue suggests that it was a cult figure to which food offerings were made. The remains of these offerings have become encrusted in the wood over the years. H. 52 cm Worn and missing. Nyaura population (Iatmul linguistic group), Middle Sepik, East Sepik Province (Papua New Guinea). On a natural base. Size: 52 cm high Estimated date: 20th century (early ?) Provenance: French private collection Selective bibliography : - Christian COIFFIER, "Chauves-souris et roussettes en Papouasie Nouvelle-Guinée. Leurs représentations dans la région du Sepik" in Journal des Océanistes, n° 150, 2020 ; pp. 43-56 Corpus for comparison: - Lot 108, Sale Africa, Oceania and Pre-Columbian Art, Bonhams (Los Angeles), 23 May 2017 - Patrick Fröhlich Gallery Expert Nicolas Corigliano (Oceanic art historian) Cabinet Corail & Mana (advice, expertise, valuation) (+33) 6 95 30 41 69 (WhatsApp)