Magic figure - Stone - Iniet - New Britain, Papua New Guinea

Description

These idols are attributed to a secret men’s society in East New britain, PNG , the Iniet.
The Iniet society was often called upon to exact vengeance or retribution.
Once a commission was taken out against a person, the powerfull sorcer, would choose a block of limestone and start to carve an Iniet figure.
After the idol had been ‘brought to life’ by the sorcer it was put in a position amongst bushes around the house of the victim. Life for the owner would go on as normal until, one day he view the ominous figure looking at him. The person would stop eating, pine away, get sick and waste to death.
When the German Empire annexed the Gazelle Peninsula as a colony, the Ingiet society was outlawed because of its terror related activities.
Ref. For similar idols see McLeod Gift Collection.
Dimensions : 43 X 18 X 6 cm
Provenances :
Ex Ulrich Kortmann Collection,
Dortmund - Germany