House Post

19th–early 20th century

Not on view

The imposing men’s ceremonial houses of the Iatmul people of the Middle Sepik River region in northeast New Guinea are supported by large wood posts. These house posts portray a variety of animals, human-like images, and geometric motifs, which represent primordial beings and phenomena drawn from the oral traditions of the clans associated with the house. This work is the upper portion of an Iatmul house post, probably one of a row of several similar posts originally positioned along the long axis of the ceremonial house to support the main roof beam. The face on the top likely represents a windjembu, a type of tree spirit that communicates with the human world by speaking through the mouth of a religious specialist, when he is in a deep trance. The face is flanked by remnants of crocodile images. The wave-like patterns below, which also likely covered the missing lower portion of the post, represent the primordial waters of the early creation period.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

Title: House Post
Date: 19th–early 20th century
Geography: Papua New Guinea, Mindimbit village, Middle Sepik River region
Culture: Iatmul people
Medium: Wood
Dimensions: H. 102 x W. 22 x D. 12 in. (259.1 x 55.9 x 30.5 cm)
Classification: Wood-Architectural
Credit Line: The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Bequest of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1979
Object Number: 1979.206.1672
Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing

More Artwork

From the same culture

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Female Figure (Tetepeku), Wood, paint, Abelam people — Female Figure (Tetepeku)
Abelam people
19th–early 20th century

Ancestor Figure, Wood, paint, fiber, ferrous metal, Sawos people — Ancestor Figure
Sawos people
19th century or earlier

Ceremonial Board (Malu), Wood, Sawos people — Ceremonial Board (Malu)
Sawos people
19th century

Head for Yam ceremony (Yena), Wood, paint, Yessan-Mayo people — Head for Yam ceremony (Yena)
Yessan-Mayo people
19th–early 20th century

Flute Mask, Wood, paint, seeds, fiber, Angoram or Kopar people — Flute Mask
Angoram or Kopar people
late 19th–early 20th century

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.