Abelam, Ancestor figure

Description

Abelam
Ancestor figure

New Guinea, 20th century
carved wood, pigment
49.5 h x 8 w x 9 d in (126 x 20 x 23 cm)

Provenance: The Vincent Price Collection of Fine Art at Sears, Roebuck and Co. | Acquired from the previous c. 1969 by the present owners

This work will ship from Chicago, Illinois.

Condition

Good condition. This example has assorted small white scuffs, finish wear, and assorted splits to wood fibers associated with age. Work is likely lacking some details as evidenced by various small holes applied to extremities.

Buyer's Premium

33% up to

$700,000.00

27% above

$700,000.00

Abelam, Ancestor figure

Lot 0170

Estimate $700-$900Aug 11, 2026, 12:00 PM EDT

Starting Price

Secure

$100

Good Bid

Strong Bid

Competitive Bid

Or select a higher max bid amount

Get approved to bid.

LiveAuctioneers Purchase Protection

Vetted auction houses

Secure, online bidding

Returns guaranteed for misrepresented listings

Dedicated support when you need it

Art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Aug 11, 2026, 12:00 PM EDT

Chicago, IL, United States

Papuan, Ancestor head: Papuan Ancestor head New Guinea, 20th century carved and painted wood 21.25 h x 5 w x 6 d in (54 x 13 x 15 cm) Provenance: Private Collection, Chicago This work will ship from Chicago, Illinois.

Aug 11, 2026Papuan, Ancestor head

$100

Abelam, Ancestor figure: Abelam Ancestor figure New Guinea, 20th century carved wood, pigments 73.5 h x 14 w x 5 d in (187 x 36 x 13 cm) Provenance: The Vincent Price Collection of Fine Art at Sears, Roebuck and Co. |

Aug 11, 2026Abelam, Ancestor figure

$100

Filipino, Bulul figure: Filipino Bulul figure 20th century fernwood, clay 23.5 h x 8.25 w x 10 d in (60 x 21 x 25 cm) This example was acquired in the Philippines by a member of the production team during the filming of

Aug 11, 2026Filipino, Bulul figure

$100

Sepik River, Ancestor figure: Sepik River Ancestor figure Papua New Guinea, early to mid-20th century carved and painted wood, shells 56.5 h x 9 w x 3.75 d in (144 x 23 x 10 cm) Provenance: Private Collection, California This

Aug 11, 2026Sepik River, Ancestor figure

$100

Iatmul, Suspension hook figure: Iatmul Suspension hook figure New Guinea, c. 1930 carved wood, pigment, cowrie shells 33 h x 10.5 w x 3 d in (84 x 27 x 8 cm) Provenance: Private Collection, San Marino, CA This work will ship from

Aug 11, 2026Iatmul, Suspension hook figure

$100

Sepik River, Suspension hook figure: Sepik River Suspension hook figure Papua New Guinea, 20th century carved wood 36 h x 4.75 w x 1.5 d in (91 x 12 x 4 cm) Provenance: Private Collection, San Marino, CA This work will ship from Los

Aug 11, 2026Sepik River, Suspension hook figure

$100

Sepik River, Ancestor figure: Sepik River Ancestor figure Papua New Guinea, 20th century carved wood, pigments, fiber, shell 49.75 h x 9.25 w x 6.5 d in (126 x 23 x 17 cm) This work will ship from Chicago, Illinois.

Aug 11, 2026Sepik River, Ancestor figure

$100

Sepik River, Ancestor mask: Sepik River Ancestor mask Papua New Guinea, 20th century carved wood, pigment, feathers, plant fibers 27 h x 12 w x 5.5 d in (69 x 30 x 14 cm) Provenance: Private Collection, San Marino, CA This work

Aug 11, 2026Sepik River, Ancestor mask

$100

Sepik River, Figural trumpet or War-Horn: Sepik River Figural trumpet or War-Horn Papua New Guinea, 20th century carved and painted wood, shells, beads, feathers, raffia, seed pods 59 h x 9 w x 11 d in (150 x 23 x 28 cm) Provenance: Private

Aug 11, 2026Sepik River, Figural trumpet or War-Horn

$100

Papuan, Collection of three objects: Papuan Collection of three objects New Guinea, 20th century carved wood, woven and painted fiber, shells 20.5 h x 4 w x 2 d in (52 x 10 x 5 cm) 14 h x 14 w x 1.75 d in (36 x 36 x 4 cm) 7 h x 3.75 w x

Aug 11, 2026Papuan, Collection of three objects

$100

Kwoma, Nogwi figure: Kwoma Nogwi figure Papua New Guinea, 20th century carved wood, pigment 23.25 h x 6 w x 3.75 d in (59 x 15 x 10 cm) Provenance: Private Collection, California This work will ship from Los Angeles,

Aug 11, 2026Kwoma, Nogwi figure

$100

Chorrera, Vessel: Chorrera Vessel Ecuador, Late Formative, c. 900-300 BCE slip-decorated, burnished, and incised earthenware 3.75 h x 7.25 dia in (10 x 18 cm) Provenance: Estate of Paul A. Cohen, Massachusetts This

Aug 11, 2026Chorrera, Vessel

$450

Colima, Effigy vessel: Colima Effigy vessel Protoclassic, c. 100 BCE-250 CE earthenware 3 h x 1.75 w x 2.25 d in (8 x 4 x 6 cm) Provenance: Private Collection, San Marino, CA This work will ship from Los Angeles,

Aug 11, 2026Colima, Effigy vessel

$100

Zapotec, Monte Alban IIIA Cylindrical vases, pair: Zapotec Monte Alban IIIA Cylindrical vases, pair Monte Alban, Valley of Oaxaca, Early Classic, c. 200-400 CE earthenware with traces of pigment 12 h x 5.5 w x 6 d in (30 x 14 x 15 cm) 11.5 h x 5.5 w

Aug 11, 2026Zapotec, Monte Alban IIIA Cylindrical vases, pair

$8,000

Moche, Mask: Moche Mask Peru, c. 300 - 700 CE copper 11.75 h x 10.5 w x 2.5 d in (30 x 27 x 6 cm) Provenance: Estate of Paul A. Cohen, Massachusetts This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.

Aug 11, 2026Moche, Mask

$400

Totonac, Bowl: Totonac Bowl Mexico, Classic Period, c. 600-900 CE slip-decorated, burnished, and incised earthenware 4.5 h x 8 dia in (11 x 20 cm) Provenance: Estate of Paul A. Cohen, Massachusetts This work will

Aug 11, 2026Totonac, Bowl

$400

Jalisco, Female figure: Jalisco Female figure Mexico, Protoclassic, c. 100 BCE-250 CE terracotta with ochre pigment 7.75 h x 5.375 w x 3.25 d in (20 x 14 x 8 cm) Provenance: Private Collection, California This work will

Aug 11, 2026Jalisco, Female figure

$100

Hemba, Male statuette: Hemba Male statuette Democratic Republic of the Congo, 20th century carved wood 5.5 h x 2.5 w x 2.25 d in (14 x 6 x 6 cm) The present lot is a secular statuette of a male elder.

Aug 11, 2026Hemba, Male statuette

$250

Lobi, Bateba (figure): Lobi Bateba (figure) Ghana, 20th century carved wood with encrustation 14.5 h x 4 w x 2.5 d in (37 x 10 x 6 cm) Provenance: Private Collection, Maryland Thi

Aug 11, 2026Lobi, Bateba (figure)

$50

Solomon Islands, Quata dance staff: Solomon Islands Quata dance staff 20th century carved wood, mother-of-pearl 38 h x 11 w x 1 d in (97 x 28 x 3 cm) Provenance: James Hooper Collection | Private Collection, Chicago This work will ship

Aug 11, 2026Solomon Islands, Quata dance staff

$500

Related Items

Abelam, Ancestor figure: Abelam Ancestor figure New Guinea, 20th century carved wood, pigments 73.5 h x 14 w x 5 d in (187 x 36 x 13 cm) Provenance: The Vincent Price Collection of Fine Art at Sears, Roebuck and Co. |

Aug 11, 2026Abelam, Ancestor figure

$100

Sepik River, Ancestor figure: Sepik River Ancestor figure Papua New Guinea, early to mid-20th century carved and painted wood, shells 56.5 h x 9 w x 3.75 d in (144 x 23 x 10 cm) Provenance: Private Collection, California This

Aug 11, 2026Sepik River, Ancestor figure

$100

Sepik River, Ancestor figure: Sepik River Ancestor figure Papua New Guinea, 20th century carved wood, pigments, fiber, shell 49.75 h x 9.25 w x 6.5 d in (126 x 23 x 17 cm) This work will ship from Chicago, Illinois.

Aug 11, 2026Sepik River, Ancestor figure

$100

Iatmul, Figure: Iatmul Figure New Guinea, 20th century carved wood, pigment, fiber 25 h x 6.5 w x 5 d in (63 x 17 x 13 cm) Provenance: Private Collection, California This work will ship from Los Angeles, California.

Aug 11, 2026Iatmul, Figure

$100

Hemba, Male statuette: Hemba Male statuette Democratic Republic of the Congo, 20th century carved wood 5.5 h x 2.5 w x 2.25 d in (14 x 6 x 6 cm) The present lot is a secular statuette of a male elder.

Aug 11, 2026Hemba, Male statuette

$250

Kwoma, Nogwi figure: Kwoma Nogwi figure Papua New Guinea, 20th century carved wood, pigment 23.25 h x 6 w x 3.75 d in (59 x 15 x 10 cm) Provenance: Private Collection, California This work will ship from Los Angeles,

Aug 11, 2026Kwoma, Nogwi figure

$100

Mambwe Carved Wooden Ancestor Figure, Zambia / Southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo: Carved wooden ancestor figure attributed to the Mambwe people of present-day Zambia and the southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The seated figure is depicted with a rounded head, elongated

Aug 16, 2026Mambwe Carved Wooden Ancestor Figure, Zambia / Southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

$200

Lobi, Bateba (figure): Lobi Bateba (figure) Ghana, 20th century carved wood with encrustation 14.5 h x 4 w x 2.5 d in (37 x 10 x 6 cm) Provenance: Private Collection, Maryland Thi

Aug 11, 2026Lobi, Bateba (figure)

$50

Ancestor Figure - Wood - Sukuma - Tanzania: Ex Zemanek-Munster auction. Lot 406 auction 19-07-2003 Standing Sukuma ancestor figure from Tanzania. Great figure in it`s abstract forms. Good condition with a great patina of age. Little is known of

Ancestor Figure - Wood - Sukuma - Tanzania

$170

Ancestor Figure - Wood - Nepal: Old wooden ancestor figure from Nepal Great standing wooden ancestor figure from Nepal. Wood, covered with pigment, standing with a raised arm. Ancestor figures were placed on family shrines. They ser

Ancestor Figure - Wood - Nepal

$100

Ancestor Figure - Wood - Bambara - Mali: Stylistic wooden ancestor statue of the Bambara tribe from Mali. The Dyonyeni are associated with the southern Dyo and Kwore society. These female statues usually appear with large conical breasts and

Ancestor Figure - Wood - Bambara - Mali

$85

Ancestor Figure - Wood - Bambara - Mali: Stylistic wooden ancestor statue of the Bambara tribe from Mali. The Dyonyeni are associated with the southern Dyo and Kwore society. These female statues usually appear with large conical breasts and

Ancestor Figure - Wood - Bambara - Mali

$85

TOP