Korwar from New Guinea

The wooden figurines on this shelf or so-called korwar. They are a special kind of ancestor figures made by the Papua’s around the Cenderawasih Bay in New Guinea. The figures have been extensively researched by the theologist and anthropologist Theo van Baaren from Groningen.

The word korwar means literally ‘soul of the dead’. The figures serve as a way to communicate with the people who have passed away. Originally the skull of the dead was placed on a small, wooden torso. However, Dutch missionaries asked the colonial government to ban the custom and succeeded. The korwar could also be part of another object, such as an amulet that was carried into battle by a warrior.

The figures usually show a shield or a fence, with the ancestor crouching behind it. The meaning of this shield is much discussed to this day. It probably refers to the valiant role of the ancestor in battle.

Korwars offered supernatural protection during the headhunting raids of the Papua’s. A korwar was said to make the warrior invisible. But korwars were also used inside the home. It received offerings and the family would ask him for advice, help and fortune through the intervention of a shaman.

Van Baaren was the first to collect facts like these in a famous standard work about korwars in 1968.