Ceremonial Axe
| Origin | Sepik River |
|---|---|
| Title | Ceremonial Axe |
| Date | Late 19th–early 20th century |
| Medium | Wood, stone, fiber, and and traces of pigment |
| Dimensions | Object: 21 1/2 × 12 × 2 1/4 in. (54.6 × 30.5 × 5.7 cm) Overall: 21 1/2 × 12 × 2 1/4 in. (54.6 × 30.5 × 5.7 cm) |
| Credit Line | Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 68.216 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
A ceremonial axe with a carved wood handle. The upper portion of the axe is wrapped in braided sennit fiber.
Ceremonial objects, such as this axe, were not used for daily functional needs. Instead, they were created with the general form of the common object, but often more elaborate. This increase in decoration is extremely impressive, especially among the peoples of the Sepik River area, as their everyday objects are generally already so well made and beautifully decorated.
The depiction of humans, as well as animals and bird-like forms and attributes are common to the art of the Sepik River area. Human figures typically represent ancestors, both real and mythical, or important spirts, while animals typically relate to totemic creatures related to the owner’s family. Important ceremonial objects were so highly valued that they were passed from one generation to the next.
Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.
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"Ceremonial Axe | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=68.216