Korvar art from papua:

Korvar is the name used to describe the art of the geographical and cultural area of Kepala Burung, formerly caned Vogelkop Peninsula, in north-west lrian Jaya. The name is taken not from a cultural group but from a specific type of sculpture, or korvar. Essentially, although the different groups of people within the Vogelkop area have their own distinct names and cultural identities, they all carve korvar, which are figurative representations of an ancestor. The bestknown and most visually pleasing of these korvar are those made on the islands of Yap en and Biak and by the coastal tribes of Geelvink or Cenderawasih Bay. Those from the Macluer Gulf and the southwest Vogelkop area are considerably cruder and more stylized. The art of the Korvar area is culturally related to neighboring Indonesian styles.

Ancestral effigy known as a korvar. At death an effigy is carved as a repository for the soul of the deceased. Korvar provide the link bebveen the worlds of the dead and the living. As in most Oceanic cultures, the ancestor is consulted for advice and help in all major matters: during preparations for war, to find out if the fishing will be good, to make or stop rain, to ward off bad magic etc. As korvar are traditionally wrapped in cloth, the wood usually retains its freshness and generally shows a lack of patina. It has been suggested that the cloth wrappings are representations of the actual death shroud. Cenderawasih Bay.Korvar art for sale in our collection

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