Sambam suspension hook

Iatmul suspension hooks known as samban feature human faces or complete human figures, usually named in honor of an ancestor, mythical or real.
Some rare hooks, like ours, feature a catfish, a totemic creature associated with the owner’s clan. These hooks served as sacred images through which the supernatural beings they represented could be consulted.
Among the Iatmul, catfish iconography was associated with powerful waken spirits, the most powerful supernatural beings, who are mentioned in a founding myth with sexual connotations1.

John Charles Edler (1947-2015)
After graduating with a degree in art and anthropology, John Charles Adler spent his life traveling the world as an art collector and dealer, focusing on Papua New Guinea. Known for his extensive knowledge of the country’s art and culture, he has long collaborated with numerous museums.

Price: €9,500