This Yipwon figure originates from the Karawari River region of New Guinea. Yipwon’s design distills the human body into an almost flat, two-dimensional form. It balances on a single leg, with curved rib-like shapes encircling a central feature, which represents the Yipwon’s liver or soul.

Carved from a single piece of wood, this figure is a highly stylized portrayal of a primordial spirit related to hunting, depicted in a human-like shape. The figure’s head features a beard tapering into a sharp point, topped with a head-covering resembling a rooster’s comb, complete with a tassel. The torso is accentuated by rib-like curves, while the eyes are adorned with small cowrie shells embedded into the wood.