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Fragment of a Hook Figure

Artwork Tombstone
CultureEwa
TitleFragment of a Hook Figure (Aripa)
DateEarly 20th century
MediumWood
DimensionsObject: 22 × 4 1/4 × 2 3/8 in. (55.9 × 10.8 × 6 cm)
Overall (includes mount): 23 × 6 3/16 × 3 15/16 in. (58.4 × 15.7 × 10 cm)
Credit LineEskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University
Accession Number79.50
This artwork is currently off display. You may be able to see this artwork by filling out an art viewing room request.
Image Forthcoming

While created by different communities 80.34, an Alamblak war and hunting amulet, and this fragment of a hook figure are visually quite similar and were both used to aid and protect their owner during warfare and hunting.

Historically every Ewa man would own a figure such as this one, depicting a spirit that helped him personally. While owned individually, such figures were all kept together within the men’s ceremonial house of the community.

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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Cite this page
"Fragment of a Hook Figure | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=79.50