Korwars serve as a new home for the soul of a deceased ancestor.
Originally, korwars had cavities in which the skull of the deceased was placed. With the arrival of missionaries, however, this practice was banned. The korwars continued to exist, but from then on without space for the skull, so that they no longer had to be life-size.
Survivors often use the korwars as a kind of oracle, a means of contacting their ancestors and asking them for advice.
This korwar is 23.5 cm high, made entirely of wood and provided with detailed geometric carvings. The posture and angular shape of the human figure are typical of the woodcarvings from the area around Geelvink Bay in New Guinea.
