작품 상세

Indonesian New Guinea Whilst most men would carve household items, only the gifted of them, called the Wow-Ipits, was allowed to make sacred objects like the Bisj posts. These particularly talented carvers that were the only men skilled enough to be trusted with the creation of larger, more important objects such as these shields. These carvers were still required to perform all the same hunting and gathering tasks as other Asmat men. Though a man commissioning a carving was expected to provide a carver with food and sometimes tobacco, the bulk of the compensation was in prestige. Within Asmat villages, carvers’ styles were recognized and venerated.