Grade Spirit Figure Malakula, Vanuatu Oceanic Art Primitive Art Tribal Art

A rare and beautiful ceremonial figure carved from the trunk of a tree fern,
from the island of Malakula
in Vanuatu

The sculpture depicts an anthropomorphic figure with powerfully stylized forms, characteristic of traditional Malakula art. The face, constructed through the superimposition of geometric shapes, is particularly expressive, with a prominently projected nose and mouth.
The body, rendered with great simplicity, retains traces of natural white pigments, creating a striking contrast with the dark wood of the tree fern.These sculptures were associated with rites of passage and the rank systems of traditional societies in Vanuatu.
They could be erected in ceremonial spaces and were linked to the status, knowledge, and ritual power of the man who had attained a certain rank.

Tree fern is a particularly unique material: its trunk consists of a dense network of fibers and aerial roots, giving the sculpture its characteristic surface texture.

Sold with CITES regulations.

A distinctive piece, as interesting for its sculptural quality as for its ethnographic and ceremonial significance.