Stylized wooden human figure with outstretched arms, decorated with intricate white geometric and tribal-inspired patterns painted over its brown surface.

Size: 18 x 12 x 29 in. 

New Guinea spirit dolls, often crafted by various highland and coastal communities, are small figures imbued with spiritual significance and used in rituals, ancestor veneration, or protective magic. Typically carved from wood or woven from natural fibers, they may be adorned with feathers, shells, paint, or hair, each element symbolizing specific powers, spirits, or connections to the ancestral world. These dolls function as intermediaries between the physical and spiritual realms, embodying protective forces, fertility, or healing energies, and are often treated with care, ritual attention, or offerings. While their appearance can range from abstract and symbolic to highly anthropomorphic, each piece carries a layered cultural meaning, reflecting the rich cosmology and animistic traditions of New Guinea societies.

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