PNG Sepik River Art Photos

The art of the Papua New Guinea peoples who live along the Sepik River has a unique style, much of it centered on the representation of crocodiles.

Click thumbnail to enlarge. F11 to view website full screen.
Miniature masks from Sepik River of Papua New Guinea at Fowler Museum. Los Angeles, CA.Carved house post & ceremonial house gable mask both from Sepik River plus figure from Madang all of New Guinea at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Ornament for sacred flute from Sepik River of New Guinea at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Wooden food dish from Sepik Coast of New Guinea at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.
Miniature masks (19th-early 20thC) from Sepik River of Papua New Guinea at Fowler Museum. Los Angeles, CA.Carved house post (17th-early 19thC) & ceremonial house gable mask (1650-1820) both from Sepik River plus figure (15thC) from Madang all of New Guinea at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Ornament for sacred flute (19th-20thC) from Sepik River of New Guinea at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Wooden food dish (18th-19thC) from Sepik Coast of New Guinea at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.
Sawos mask from Sepik River of New Guinea at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Woven fiber arm band from Sepik River of New Guinea at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Slit-drum from Sepik River of New Guinea at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Detail of slit-drum from Sepik River of New Guinea at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.
Sawos mask (20thC) from Sepik River of New Guinea at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Woven fiber arm band (19th-20thC) from Sepik River of New Guinea at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Slit-drum (20thC) from Sepik River of New Guinea at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Detail of slit-drum (20thC) from Sepik River of New Guinea at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.
Carved drums from Sepik River of Papua New Guinea at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Carvings from Sepik River of Papua New Guinea at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Carvings from Sepik River of Papua New Guinea at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Carved ceremonial board from Sepik River of Papua New Guinea at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.
Carved drums from Sepik River of Papua New Guinea at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Carvings from Sepik River of Papua New Guinea at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Carvings from Sepik River of Papua New Guinea at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Carved ceremonial board from Sepik River of Papua New Guinea at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.
Over modeled skull with cassowary feathers from Sepik River of Papua New Guinea at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Carved shield representing ancestor from Sepik River of Papua New Guinea at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Carved wood slit gong drum in shape of crocodile by latmul people from Sepik River region of Papua New Guinea at Honolulu Academy of Arts. Honolulu, HI.Shield masks from Lower Sepik River of Papua New Guinea at Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Cleveland, OH.
Over modeled skull with cassowary feathers from Sepik River of Papua New Guinea at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Carved shield representing ancestor from Sepik River of Papua New Guinea at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Carved wood slit gong drum (garamut) in shape of crocodile by latmul people from Sepik River region of Papua New Guinea at Honolulu Academy of Arts. Honolulu, HI.Shield masks (early 1900s) from Lower Sepik River of Papua New Guinea at Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Cleveland, OH.
Orator's Pulpit by Iatmul people of Sepik River region of Papua New Guinea at San Antonio Museum of Art. San Antonio, TX.Basketry figure of wild pig from Sepik River region of Papua New Guinea at San Antonio Museum of Art. San Antonio, TX.Gulf region bull-roarer, Sepik River debating stool, & Tami Islands architectural panel from Papua New Guinea at Dallas Museum of Art. Dallas, TX.Wooden ancestor shield from Papua New Guinea Sepik Region at Utah Museum of Fine Art. Salt Lake City, UT.
Orator's Pulpit (late 19th-early 20thC) by Iatmul people of Sepik River region of Papua New Guinea at San Antonio Museum of Art. San Antonio, TX.Basketry figure of wild pig (early 20thC) from Sepik River region of Papua New Guinea at San Antonio Museum of Art. San Antonio, TX.Gulf region bull-roarer, Sepik River debating stool, & Tami Islands architectural panel (late 19th-early 20thC) from Papua New Guinea at Dallas Museum of Art. Dallas, TX.Wooden ancestor shield from Papua New Guinea Sepik Region at Utah Museum of Fine Art. Salt Lake City, UT.
Carved canoe spirit head in Mendam. Papua New Guinea.Carved and tasseled crocodile canoe spirit head in Mendam. Papua New Guinea.Gable of a house Tambaran in Angoram. Papua New Guinea.Carved post of the house Tambaran, Angoram. Papua New Guinea.
Carved canoe spirit head in Mendam. Papua New Guinea.Carved and tasseled crocodile canoe spirit head in Mendam. Papua New Guinea.Gable of a house Tambaran in Angoram. Papua New Guinea.Carved post of the house Tambaran, Angoram. Papua New Guinea.
Carved post holding up the house Tambaran in Angoram. Papua New Guinea.Wooden carved support post of house Tambaran in Angoram. Papua New Guinea.Angoram magistrate's chair carved with woman giving birth to two snakes represents the scales of justice. Papua New Guinea.Artist of a carved rooster in Tambanam. Papua New Guinea.
Carved post holding up the house Tambaran in Angoram. Papua New Guinea.Wooden carved support post of house Tambaran in Angoram. Papua New Guinea.Angoram magistrate's chair carved with woman giving birth to two snakes represents the scales of justice. Papua New Guinea.Artist of a carved rooster in Tambanam. Papua New Guinea.
Crocodile and shield carvings created by artists in Tambanam. Papua New Guinea.Carver of the crocodile and his brother holding the artwork in Tambanam. Papua New Guinea.Children swimming in the water near a canoe in Tambanam. Papua New Guinea.Carver posing with his artwork near the house Tambaran in Wambun. Papua New Guinea.
Crocodile and shield carvings created by artists in Tambanam. Papua New Guinea.Carver of the crocodile and his brother holding the artwork in Tambanam. Papua New Guinea.Children swimming in the water near a canoe in Tambanam. Papua New Guinea.Carver posing with his artwork near the house Tambaran in Wambun. Papua New Guinea.
Kanganaman carvings. Papua New Guinea.Dugout canoes on shore of Timbunke. Papua New Guinea.Carved post supports a pole full of laundry in Timbunke. Papua New Guinea.
Kanganaman carvings. Papua New Guinea.Dugout canoes on shore of Timbunke. Papua New Guinea.Carved post supports a pole full of laundry in Timbunke. Papua New Guinea.
See Also:
All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
All rights reserved. Permission required to use.

CMP