Crocodile Head Canoe Prow

An old and highly used large canoe prow. Beautifully carved in the shape of a crocodile head with an ancestral face set behind the eyes and a bird positioned with its tail coming out of the ancestral mouth and the main body of the bird positioned on the crocodile nose .

The bird is pointing forwards which represents good luck for the passengers. This prow is very old and has been extensively used on the river. Some of the edges and details have been worn down from constant use and show some brown of the original timber colour.

L; 48cm / 19ins. Bruknowi, Upper Sepik.